Slovakia to ‘Monitor All Muslims’ on its Territory: Prime Minister

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has said that “every single Muslim in Slovakia” is being monitored in the wake of the recent Paris attacks, saying that there are “huge security threats” connected to migration.

“We respect that there’s a migration crisis but Slovak citizens and their security is of higher priority than the rights of migrants,” Fico said during a televised debate.

Fico also said that, although the majority of Muslims are in Slovakia legally, Slovakian special forces are “ready to engage” with and deport illegal immigrants.

The Prime Minister adheres to the policy of stemming the flow of migrants fleeing from war-torn Syria, as he believes the terrorist group ISIS could infiltrate the migrants seeking refuge in Europe. He has previously rejected a proposed quota system that seeks to distribute incoming refugees more evenly across Europe.

Slovakia’s refugee policy has come under fire before, particularly after the government announced its willingness to take in 200 of the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, as long as they are Christians. A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said the reason for this stipulation is the lack of mosques in Slovakia.

Prime Minister Fico also said, “Virtually every time there has been a terrorist attack [in Europe], representatives of the Muslims were responsible.”

“We have been saying that there are enormous security risks linked to migration. Hopefully, some people will open their eyes now,” Fico told journalists, alluding to last week’s Paris attacks.

Parisian police found a Syrian passport next to the body of one of the Stade de France suicide bombers. Although authorities confirmed the passport belongs to a Syrian refugee, it remains unclear whether said refugee was involved in the attacks or if the assailant created fake documentation under the refugee’s name.

Police identified another one of the attackers as a French national with a previous criminal record.

The death toll from the city-wide gun and bomb attacks in Paris now stands at 129, AFP reported, citing Parisian officials. 300 have been hospitalized with injuries from the attacks, with 80 in critical condition.

Subscribe to our newsletter