A Quiet Yet Determined Resistance in Switzerland: Stop N Delay's Synchronous Action

4 June 2025

The Stop N Delay initiative, founded by refugees in Switzerland, led a striking and multifaceted protest across the country. The action, announced under the name “SenkroNize AksiyoN”, was carried out simultaneously in 26 cantons. Refugees made their voices heard from camps, homes, libraries, and streets, using banners and placards. Without taking to the streets, thousands of people turned their everyday surroundings into spaces of resistance, drawing attention to the injustices of the Swiss asylum system.

Fribourg

In the canton of Fribourg, a group of refugees gathered in front of the main train station to take part in the action. Holding banners that highlighted the uncertainty faced by those holding an N permit, participants attracted the attention of local residents and received positive responses. Shared slogans were chanted to voice their demands, reflecting a strong sense of unity and solidarity.

Bern

In Bern, refugees made themselves visible in the camps, in their homes and on the streets with placards and banners. Mehmet Murat Yıldırım, a journalist who has lived in Switzerland since 2023 and sought asylum after leaving Turkey, joined the action in Bern to raise his voice. He pointed to the obstacle of family reunification as the most pressing issue and expressed his deep longing for his son, who remains in Turkey.

Civan Yıldırım, aged 7 and living in the district of Kuşadası in Turkey, prepared a moving placard for his father, on which he wrote:

“I was 5 when my father left, now I’m 7. I miss him very much.”

St. Gallen

In the canton of St. Gallen, people living in various refugee camps also took part in this silent protest with great resolve. Gathering in the camp gardens, the refugees voiced their demands through placards. This collective and silent stance brought together those rendered invisible by the system — and made them visible again.

Geneva

In Geneva, a group of refugees assembled in front of the Jet d’Eau, the city's iconic fountain. Participants raised their placards in front of this striking structure to express their demands. This quiet yet powerful act delivered a strong message in the very heart of the city.

At the Same Time, Everywhere: Silent but Effective

The slogans, shared in three languages throughout the action, echoed widely across social media. From wherever they were, participants conveyed a shared message:

“Make N permit holders visible!”
“We want to live, not wait!”

Clear Demands:

An extension of the rights granted to N permit holders
The removal of uncertainty in asylum procedures and a reduction in waiting times
Guaranteed access to education, healthcare, housing and employment
Immediate recognition of the right to family reunification

A Collective Resistance

Stop N Delay is not merely a platform for defending rights, but a collective movement through which refugees shift from passive waiting to active struggle. Today’s action became a united voice raised against Switzerland’s asylum policy.
It was silent — but it echoed across every canton.