Racism in Switzerland? Oprah Winfrey thinks so after shopping in Zurich

Should tourists to Switzerland that don’t look white or rich be aware of new apartheid-type policies in this conservative European country?

It may be better if visitors from certain countries and of certain colors be made aware of it instead of being humiliated.

Famous US TV star, Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s richest women, was apparently told the bags on display in an upmarket handbag shop in Zurich were “too expensive” for her. Well, this African-American women is one of the world’s richest women. The star made an estimated US$77 million last year – enough to afford the bag, most likely enough to buy the store and fire the assistant. Business in upscale stores in Zurich must be excellent. Oprah Winfrey said the store assistant refused to serve her.

Her claims, made to a US television program, come amid a political row over plans by some Swiss towns to ban asylum-seekers from some public places.

People in Switzerland that don’t look Swiss may no longer be allowed to use swimming pools, playing fields, or public libraries. Perhaps this could mean soon nonwhite passengers on Swiss may have to get only center seats or sit in the back of the train. Of course, this rule is currently restricted to asylum-seekers only, but it may be a fine line endangering the Swiss tourism industry.

Mario Gattiker, the head of Switzerland’s Federal Office of Immigration, which endorsed the apartheid-style restrictions, justified the move to journalists saying, “We need rules to ensure a peaceful and orderly coexistence of residents and asylum-seekers.”

Daniela Baer, spokesperson for the Swiss Tourism Office, told eTurboNews, “Switzerland is a welcoming country.” She claimed this was an isolated incident. Her office conducted a recent survey of 10,000 tourists. All respondents thought positive of this destination.

She further stated when a person is humiliated, this person deserves an apology. Oprah deserves such an apology according to Baer and the Swiss Tourism Board.

When asked about the new restrictions on nonwhite-looking, asylum-seekers, Ms. Baer did not want to respond on how this could spill over to tourism. She said this was a political issue, and the Swiss government should respond to such a question. Her office is only responsible for marketing and public relations.

A spokesman for Switzerland’s non-governmental Refugee Council described the restraining orders as “intolerable and inhuman” and demanded that the authorities suspend the measures.

Swiss TV is obviously to blame, since it does not show any Oprah Winfrey (OWN) TV shows.

Winfrey, who stars in Lee Daniels’ new film The Butler, visited Zurich last month to attend singer Tina Turner’s wedding.

Winfrey said she left the shop calmly without arguing, but that the experience was proof that racism continues to be a problem.

“There’s two different ways to handle it,” Oprah said. “I could’ve had the whole blow-up thing… but racism in Switzerland still exists, of course, it does.”

Her claims are a public relations disaster for Switzerland.

About 48,000 people are currently seeking asylum in Switzerland. It has twice as many asylum-seekers as the European average.