Chinese tourist mistakenly applies for asylum, spends 12 days in German refugee camp
- 8 years ago
STUTTGART, GERMANY — A Chinese tourist was taken to a German refugee camp after he mistakenly applied for asylum when trying to report a theft.
The 31-year-old man, known as Mr. L, was backpacking in Heidelberg, Germany, when his wallet was stolen.
Mr. L went to file a police report, but as he doesn’t speak German or English, he mistakenly went to city hall and filled out an asylum application instead.
He was taken to a refugee camp in the northern town of Duelmen, where he was fingerprinted and underwent a medical examination.
Mr. L spent 12 days at the camp before the Red Cross contacted a Mandarin speaker at a nearby Chinese restaurant to interpret.
A representative from the Red Cross said the man initially drew attention because he was well-dressed compared to most refugees, and because he kept asking for his passport.
The 31-year-old man, known as Mr. L, was backpacking in Heidelberg, Germany, when his wallet was stolen.
Mr. L went to file a police report, but as he doesn’t speak German or English, he mistakenly went to city hall and filled out an asylum application instead.
He was taken to a refugee camp in the northern town of Duelmen, where he was fingerprinted and underwent a medical examination.
Mr. L spent 12 days at the camp before the Red Cross contacted a Mandarin speaker at a nearby Chinese restaurant to interpret.
A representative from the Red Cross said the man initially drew attention because he was well-dressed compared to most refugees, and because he kept asking for his passport.