West German Welfare Outlets Called Scrooges

Some West German welfare offices are refusing Christmas bonuses to Turks and other non-Christian immigrants on the basis that they do not celebrate the event, a semi-governmental bureau that deals with foreigners’ problems complained Tuesday.

The bureau said that while Germans picked up an extra allowance, usually $24 a person, with their social security checks, Muslim and Hindu residents were being sent away empty-handed.

“We call on those offices which refuse to pay Christmas money to bear in mind that the bitterness this discriminatory treatment will generate is a much more serious matter than the money which will be saved,” it added in a statement.