Sweden adopts tougher asylum rules

Stockholm (dpa) - The Swedish parliament Tuesday adopted tighter rules for asylum seekers, including no longer giving permanent residency to all people granted refuge in the Scandinavian country.The bill was passed by a 240 to 45 vote. The coalition government of Social Democrats and Greens was backed by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats as well as the conservative Moderate Party.In addition to three-year residency for most refugees, the measures include restricting family reunions.Thirty legislators abstained including members of the opposition Liberal Party and Christian Democrats, while 34 members of the 349-seat legislature were absent.Four members of the Greeens voted against the bill along with the opposition Centre Party and the Left Party, which supports the government on a number of issues.The new rules come into force on July 20 and apply to people who arrived after November 24, when the government mooted the tougher stance.Non-governmental organizations, including the Swedish branches of Amnesty International and Save the Children, have criticized the legislation as have bishops in the Lutheran Church of Sweden.The government said the move was necessary, citing the strains caused by the arrival of 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015.The measures were to apply for three years, but exceptions on permanent residency would apply to quota refugees.Sweden - a country of almost 10 million - was along with Germany and Austria among the top destinations in Europe for people fleeing conflict in countries such as Syria and Iraq.