Zeman Considers Building Wall to Stop Migrants

The Czech president proposed building a wall on the Czech border, and recommended citizens arm themselves, during a recent interview

Dave Park

Written by Dave Park Published on 01.08.2016 16:22:54 (updated on 01.08.2016) Reading time: 1 minute

In a recently-aired interview with local tabloid Blesk from the baroque Lány Chateau, Czech president Miloš Zeman touched on a number of heated topics surrounding migration and the threat of terrorism in the Czech Republic. 

He revealed, for instance, that wife Ivana had recently obtained a gun license and purchased a firearm. While Zeman had once thought he owned too many guns, he has changed his mind due to the increased threat in Europe. 

“Citizens should arm themselves against terrorists,” said the president.

He also revealed what he believes might be potential targets of terrorists in the Czech Republic: namely, Prague Castle and the city’s metro network, according to iDnes.cz

The news server also picked out some of Zeman’s more salient statements from the Blesk interview. Perhaps most controversial: the notion of building a fence at the Czech border to prevent migrants from entering the country, recalling similar measures taken in Hungary.

“Fences have been built in a number of countries,” said the president. “Hungary and Macedonia have done it and now there is talk about building one in the Brenner Pass [between Austria and Italy].”

“In the case of a large wave of migrants, I would not object to constructing a fence.”

While a wall might keep future migrants out, Zeman is also concerned with those already in Europe.

“You have to count with the fact that when over a million refugees come to Europe, a certain percentage of them will be the so-called jihadists,” he said.

“I see the solution in deporting all those who are not granted asylum in their respective countries. That, as we know, represents the majority.”

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