Denmark’s parliament voted on Tuesday a plan which will allow authorities to search asylum-seekers when they arrive in the country and seize items worth of no sentimental value up to a value of 10,000 Danish kroner (about 1,340 euros).

They also voted for plans to delay family reunions for asylum seekers.

The centre-right Danish government claimed that this procedure is to cover the cost of treatment of each asylum-seeker by the state.

Nevertheless, the UN refugee agency and the European Commission criticised the proposals calling the move concerning and regrettable, while an opposition party termed it “morally horrible”.

Speaking before the vote, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva the measures would cause hardship and harm, as BBC states.

“The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view,” he said.

“It runs the risk of fuelling sentiments of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection.”