Government defends policy, saying it's same rules for refugees and Danes

Denmark has defended plans for police to search asylum seekers' luggage for valuables and cash after they prompted international outrage and drew comparisons to Nazi Germany.

The Danish government has proposed to bring refugees in line with unemployed Danes, who can only get social benefits if they sell any valuables and assets above 10,000 kroner (£976).

Valuables worth more than 10,000 Danish kroner would be seized upon applying for asylum, and then used to pay for lodging, language classes, health care and job training courses.

Critique: The government's proposal would bring asylum seekers (pictured near the German border in September) in line with unemployed Danes, who only get social benefits if they sell any valuables above £976

However, the plans sparked international outrage, especially in the US, where the Washington Post noted that confiscating jewellery from refugees had 'a particularly bitter connotation in Europe' where the Nazis seized gold and valuables from Jews and others during the Second World War.

'I can see that some foreign media are pouring scorn over (the fact) that we in the future may withdraw asylum seekers' valuables and demand that they should pay for their stay in asylum centres themselves,' Integration Minister Inger Stojberg wrote on Facebook.

'There is no reason to criticise, since it is already the case that if you as a Dane have valuables for more than 10,000 kroner ($1,450, 1,340 euros) it may be required that this is sold before you can receive unemployment benefits,' she added.

Stojberg, an immigration hardliner of the ruling right-wing Venstre party, added that 'in Denmark you have to try for yourself if you can.'

Items of personal significance, such as wedding rings, as well as mobile phones will be exempt, according to the government's proposal.

Keeping some: Asylum seekers (pictured here in September) will be allowed to keep Items of personal significance, such as wedding rings, as well as mobile phones even if they are worth more than £976

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, whose government rules with the backing of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP) in parliament, accused the media of painting 'an incorrect picture of Denmark.'

Many Americans simply do not understand how generous the Danish welfare state is, he told Danish journalists in Brussels, according to daily Politiken.

'It is in that context you should understand that we in Denmark say that before you get these welfare benefits you must, if you have a fortune, pay yourself,' he said.

Compared to neighbouring Sweden, Denmark has seen a relatively modest rise in asylum applications this year, after shortening residence permits, delaying family reunifications and placing adverts in Lebanese newspapers to discourage refugees. =

The proposal is believed come as a response to the new tougher immigration policies in neighbouring Sweden, as the Danish government fears it will turn their country from a transition point to a final destination.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants have passed through Denmark this year, but most have been bound for Sweden.

Last month, the previously open-policy nation imposed temporary border controls, widened ID checks to include all public transport to Sweden and tighten asylum rules in a bid to reduce the number of asylum seekers.

Despite this, Sweden still expects almost 200,000 asylum seekers this year, compared to Denmark's 20,000.