Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Neatkariga interviews the representatives of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Latvia
• National Union elaborated a plan addressing migration crisis and proposes to set up a special parliamentary committee

Neatkariga interviews the head of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Latvia Abu Umar Hamza Janis Lucins and its press secretary Ahmed Roberts Klimovics. According to them, it is wrong to associate all refugees with Muslims as only those Muslims who practice Islam on a regular basis are the real Muslims. Regarding integration of Muslims, Mr Lucins says that it does not mean to refuse one’s religion, but it means to obey the local legal regulations.

In order to discuss issues concerning immigration policy, asylum seekers and refugees, the National Union (NU) proposed to establish a special parliamentary committee. Such proposal comes out of a plan addressing migration crisis elaborated by the NU.  The plan includes 22 proposals on how to solve the crisis not only in Latvia, but also in the EU. For instance, Neatkariga mentions, the plan says that in order to avoid increase of Russian speaking community in Latvia, when choosing asylum seekers to be accommodated in Latvia, Russian language proficiency of potential asylum seekers should not be considered as an advantage. The advantage should be given to those proficient in one of the EU official languages. The NU proposes to set that refugees have the right to receive any benefits in Latvia no longer than a year. It also proposes to define that when the situation in refugee’s home country improves he/she should return back home. Neatkariga