But move has polarised opinion with some residents saying they are embarrassed and have called the vote 'racist'

Decision was made over fears women at risk of Cologne-style sex attacks and would spoil their peaceful way of life

Instead they voted by narrow margin of 52 per cent to 48 to reject the refugees and instead pay a fine of £200,000

But the wealthy residents of Oberwil-Lieli held a referendum on May and voted not to accept their ten migrant quota

Swiss government forcing 26 counties to accept migrant quota to deliver on promise to take 50,000 across country

Picture postcard village of Oberwil-Lieli, 10 miles outside Zurich, has 2,200 residents, 300 of which are millionaires


One of Europe’s wealthiest villages is refusing to accept any asylum seekers - and has instead voted to pay a fine of £200,000.

Fears women and children could be at risk from sex attacks as well as the disruption to their peaceful way of life has led the super-rich of Switzerland’s alpine resort of Oberwil-Lieli to vote ‘no’ in a referendum to accept just ten migrants.

The picturesque village, where 300 millionaires make up 2,200 population, they all used their financial muscle to reject a Government imposed quota.

Banned: One of Europe’s wealthiest villages Oberwil-Lieli is refusing to accept any asylum seekers The Swiss Government ordered them to accept ten migrants as part of its promise to the EU to take a total of 50,000 across the country, at least 3,000 of which fleeing Syria

Vote: But the 2,200 wealthy residents in Oberwil-Lieli, 300 of whom are millionaires, have held a referendum and voted to reject the Government's quota and have decided instead pay a £200,000 fine

Some of Oberwil-Lieli’s wealthiest residents even offered to personally foot part of the fine being imposed by the Swiss authorities for refusing to house refugees.

‘We do not want them here it is as simple as that,’ one resident of the village told MailOnline.

‘We have worked hard all our lives and have a lovely village that we do not want it spoiled. We are not suited to take in refugees. They would not fit in here.’

Surrounded by lush green pastures and with stunning views of the snow-capped Alps in the distance, the twin villages of Oberwil and Lieli would not look out of place on the front of a box of chocolates.

Alpine style chalets and modern glass fronted homes make it one of the most desirable - and expensive - places to live in Switzerland.

The roads are spotlessly clean, gardens are immaculately kept and despite its proximity to the country’s major city Zurich of 10 miles there is little traffic.

Add a zero crime rate and it is not hard to see why homes in the villages cost upwards of £1million with many others worth three times as much.

It is this idyll that villagers, a mixture of retirees and young families, voted to keep fearing an influx of migrants would change their way of life.

Picture perfect: Fears women and children could be at risk from sex attacks as well as the disruption to their peaceful way of life has led the super-rich of Switzerland’s alpine bolthole to vote 'no' in the May 1 referendum

Picturesque: Surrounded by lush green pastures and with stunning views of the snow-capped Alps in the distance, the twin villages of Oberwil and Lieli would not look out of place on the front of a box of chocolates

Safeguard: Residents, who have as many millionaires per head of the population, say they want to protect their quiet way of life and do not want any new arrivals spoiling the tranquil setting

On May 1, in a first for anywhere in Europe, the residents voted by a narrow margin to keep asylum seekers out.

It has led to a division in the town and severely tested friendships among the residents who have been called racist by human rights groups like Amnesty International who were stunned by the vote.

Although not part of the European Union the Swiss Government has pledged to play its part in resettling families fleeing ISIS and the civil war in Syria.

They announced earlier this year they would take 3,000 Syrians with a third of those arriving over the next few months in a matter of months.

We do not want them here it is as simple as that. We have worked hard all our lives and have a lovely village that we do not want it spoiled. Oberwil-Lieli resident

The country also aims to settle up to 50,000 asylum seekers who have managed to make their way across border and into Switzerland, mostly from crossing at the border with Italy following a perilous journey.

Oberwil-Lieli’s outspoken Mayor Andreas Glarner says it was the fear of not knowing where the ten refugees had come from that led to the ‘no’ vote.

The New Year Eve sexual assaults on hundreds of women in Cologne, Germany by foreign men was also a factor in village residents saying no to housing the newcomers, according to Mr Glarner.

In an exclusive interview, the mayor denied that by refusing to accept refugees they were being racist.

He told MailOnline: ‘The rejection was a protest at the quota being imposed on us by the Government.

‘We were not to be told if the ten were from Syria or if they are economic migrants from other countries.

‘Yes, the refugees from Syria have to be helped and they are better served by being helped in the camps nearer their home.

‘Money could be sent to help them, but if we are housing them here it sends out the wrong message. Others will come and risk their lives crossing the ocean and paying people smugglers to bring them.’

Mr Glarner, who is a member of the right wing SVP party and their spokesman on immigration and asylum policy, added that residents voted to reject the Government quota, as they believed other towns would be more suitable to take them.

Donations: Some of the richest residents in Oberwil-Lieli said they would personally help pay for the fine imposed by the Swiss government, which equates to £100 per person. They will have to pay another fine next year if they fail to meet the quota

Ashamed: But the decision has polarised the community and split opinion down the middle. While some residents supported the decision others are left 'embarrassed' by it. A mother-of-two who would only give her name as Patriza says she is embarrassed by the 'racism'

Payment: The town is full of alpine style chalets and modern glass fronted homes make it one of the most desirable - and expensive - places to live in Switzerland. The fine will be paid from the civic fund of £5million which is generated by local taxes

Pride: The roads are spotlessly clean, gardens are immaculately kept and despite its proximity to the country’s major city Zurich of 10 miles there is little traffic. Residents, many of whom are pensioners, say they do not want their retirement spoiled by immigration

Fine: The decision means the village will have to pay a fine to the Swiss government. The £206,000 penalty, which has yet to be imposed, will come out of the annual budget for the village, which raises £5million a year

Fear: Oberwil-Lieli’s outspoken Mayor Andreas Glarner, 54, said it was the fear of not knowing where the ten refugees had come from that led to the ‘no’ vote. He told MailOnline: ‘We were not to be told if the ten were from Syria or are economic migrants from other countries'

He said Oberwil-Leili is a quiet village not equipped to house ten migrants.

‘It was a narrow victory for those of us who did not want the refugees, but Oberwil-Lieli is not the place for them,’ he said.

‘What job would they do? There are a few businesses and farms here but there are no jobs to speak off.

‘They are not likely to be able to speak the language and if some of the refugees have children they will have to go into the local school where they will need special focus.’

Mr Glarner said those in favour of accepting the ten refugees had wanted them housed in an empty suite of offices.

But he said many residents rejected that idea as it was too close to a nursery school.

Since the vote the mayor, 54, said he has been bombarded with messages of support from other villages and towns across the country for taking a stand against the quota system.

He produced a car sticker that says ‘I love Oberwil-Lieli’ and has sent out over 1,000.

‘It might say I love Oberwil, but to those who have asked for the sticker it means “we don’t want refugees”,’ he said.

Deterrent: The mayor added: 'Yes, the refugees from Syria have to be helped and they are better served by being helped in the camps nearer their home. Money could be sent to help them, but if we are housing them here it sends out the wrong message. Others will come and risk their lives crossing the ocean and paying people smugglers to bring them.'

Stubborn: The 'no' vote was won by 52 per cent to 48 per cent. Mayor Glarner said Oberwil-Leili is a quiet village not equipped to house ten migrants. ‘It was a narrow victory for those of us who did not want the refugees, but Oberwil-Lieli is not the place for them’

Asylum: Switzerland is a country of eight million people. Last year there were 39,523 applications for asylum with quarter of those accepted. In the first three months of this year the saw 8,315 asylum applications, 45 per cent less than from October to December 2015

It is clear that the controversial decision to pay a fine and not take any refugees has split the town.

More than a dozen people spoken to by MailOnline on the streets Oberwil-Lieli refused to comment on the vote.

We have taken the right step. Europe is awash with refugees and they do not have a place here. Oberwil-Lieli 'no' voter

The Swiss are known for their secrecy and privacy, but the mention of the referendum over refugees sent them scurrying away.

Those who agreed to talk insisted on anonymity and would not have their photograph taken.

One mother collecting her daughter from school said she had voted no to refugees after reading about the mass sexual assaults on women in Germany.

‘I am a compassionate person and I want to help others, but I did not want young men coming to our village. It is so safe and quiet here and I did not want to have to worry about my daughter’s safety,’ she said.

‘I am not being selfish as I know the people fleeing Syria have to be helped. I am more than willing to give money to help them.

‘If we had been told there were two families and children I might have voted to accept them. What is unacceptable is that we are just given ten migrants and know nothing about them.’

At the Tricolore restaurant others were more outspoken in their defiance.

‘There are many other places that they would be able to fit in,’ said a man in his fifties and a long-time resident.

Dropping: Fewer applications are being recorded in the country in recent months: in April 2016 there were 1,748 applications compared to 1,376 for the same month the previous year

Dispersed: Switzerland is taking 50,000 asylum seekers who have crossed the border. Successful applicants are divided among the 26 cantons, the Swiss version of a county, with the number of refugees being allocated dependent on the local population number

Newcomers: Amnesty International says in March there were 1,748 asylum applications to Switzerland, with most from war torn Eritrea. In April 2016 there were 1,748 applications for asylum compared to 1,376 for the same month the previous year

‘Migrants would fare much better in a city where there might pockets on their own community. There are none here.’

Elsewhere in the town other residents who were in favour of having refugees spoke of their ‘shame’ and ‘embarrassment’.

A mother-of-two who would only give her name as Patriza said she felt embarrassed the way the village had voted.

Defiant: Outspoken Mayor Andreas Glarner said it was the fear of not knowing where the refugees come from that led to ‘no’ vote.

‘It is only right that we do something to help others who are less fortunate,’ said the 32-year-old.

“It makes the village look like we all do not care what happens to others and only look after ourselves. That is not how it is.”

Retiree Alexander Baldinger said he supported fully the Mayor and his stance against any refugees being allowed to settle town.

‘We have taken the right step. Europe is awash with refugees and they do not have a place here.

“What work will they do if that can’t speak the language. The town can afford to pay the fine and I hope we continue to do so.

Another young mother, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said she was afraid to go public with her views for fear of being branded a racist.

As her young daughter played by her feet, the 34-year-old said: ‘Yes, I voted to keep the refugees out. I have compassion and sympathy for them but they would not fit in here.

‘Take a look around Oberwil and you tell me how a Syrian family would fit in. If the children do not speak German how will they get on in school? There is not the resource for them.

‘They will be from a different culture and religion. Many people in this town have a lot of sympathy for what they have gone through, but I am sorry this is no the right place for them.’

Student Niclas Guendel, 27, said he felt shame that people in his village had turned their back on asylum seekers.

‘Everyone has a right to a new life and you have to be pretty selfish to deny someone that,’ he said.

‘This village could easily accommodate some families. I am sure the community would rally round them.’

In the referendum residents voted by a fine margin of 52 per cent to 48 per cent to pay the annual fine.

The £206,000 penalty, which has yet to be imposed, will come out of the annual budget for the village, which raises £5million a year from local taxes.

Mayor Glarner said residents could well afford to pay the fine each year and guarantee no migrants.

Under Swiss tax laws residents pay tax on their income and the value of their home.

With dozens of multi-million pound homes in the village has a generous tax base and able to spare money that would have been spent on the village go on a fine.

The mayor said some of the wealthiest villagers had offered to pay part of the bill from their own money if it meant asylum seekers were not housed.

The system where towns and villages in Switzerland were given a opt out clause of accepting asylum seekers in return for a fine was introduced more than five years ago.

The fine had been £20,000 a year but was increased ten fold as more people from countries like Eretria and Afghanistan attempted to claim asylum.

Mayor Garner said figures compiled by his party showed that after five years over 70 per cent of asylum seekers remained unemployed and reliant on state benefit handouts

Figures supplied by Amnesty International in Switzerland showed that in March there were 1,748 asylum applications, with most from war torn Eritrea.

In April 2016 there were 1,748 applications for asylum in Switzerland compared to 1,376 for the same month the previous year.

But latest figures released by the Secretary of State for immigration showed a downward trend in applications.

Last year there were 39,523 applications with quarter of those being accepted into the country of eight million.

In the first three months of this year Switzerland saw 8,315 asylum applications, 45 per cent less than from October to December 2015.

Those allowed to stay are divided among the 26 cantons, the Swiss version of a county, with the number of refugees being allocated dependent on the local population number.

A spokesman for the Office of Migration said a breakdown of where the asylum seekers were being sent was not available.

Trouble: Oberwil-Lieli is crime free. And just over half those who voted say they want to keep it that way. They point to Brentgarten, 3km away, which faced problems three years ago when 150 asylum seekers, mostly from Eritrea, were housed in a disused army barracks

Disquiet: Brentgarten, the nearest town, tried to segregate its 150 asylum seekers and stop them gathering in numbers at the local swimming pool and sports centre. A church was also placed off limits leading to an outcry from human rights groups

Tension: Brentgarten, which like Oberwil is in the canton of Aargau, currently has 150 asylum seekers under the quota system. Picture, migrants in a Swiss Federal refugee centre in Thun, Switzerland

The closest town to Oberwil-Lieli faced problems three years ago when over 150 asylum seekers, mostly from Eritrea, were housed in a disused army barracks.

The town of Brentgarten, about 3km away, attempted to segregate asylum seekers and stop them gathering in numbers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.

A church was also placed off limits leading to an outcry from human rights groups.

The town, which like Oberwil is in the canton of Aargau, currently has 150 asylum seekers under the quota system.

They were among the more than a million migrants and refugees who crossed into Europe in 2015.