A Swiss citizen of Palestinian origin reported the 67-year-old politician to the authorities after reading the article he wrote for the Blaulicht newsletter, newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reports.

In his article Schlüer, who lost his seat in the national parliament last autumn, described witnessing a fight in Flaach, where he lives. As he looked on, he said, a group of Palestinian asylum seekers attacked each other “like animals”.

The community, he said, had been told the asylum seekers coming to Flaach were refugees in danger of losing their lives if not granted protection in Switzerland.

“In fact, what arrived was scum,” he wrote, adding that Palestinians in general should not be granted asylum in Switzerland and should instead be sent home.

Chief prosecutor Hans Maure confirmed that the Zurich prosecutor’s office had received a complaint about the article.

David Gibor, the lawyer representing the complainant, said he hoped the criminal proceedings against Schlüer would be as “vigorous and passionate” as the politician’s opinions.