In 2015, Denmark, along with countries like France and Belgium, experienced terrorist attacks targeting the Jewish community. This made the issue of countering anti-Semitism and terrorism
relevant for Danish society and its leadership, who have been actively working to address these challenges in recent months. Examining Denmark's experience in this field proves valuable for other Western and Eastern European countries, underscoring the significance of the topic explored by the author.
Various aspects of the main trends and patterns of anti-Semitism development in Denmark have been examined in works by Andrew Bukser, Janike Anderson, and others [Buckser, 2003; Anderson, 2015].
It's worth noting that Danish politicians were the first in Europe to initiate discussions at the political level concerning the resistance to imams who incite violence against Jews. In March of this year, Danish parliament members decided to address the activities of an imam from a mosque in Aarhus who called for the complete destruction of Jews and advocated stoning women. They even held special debates on this matter. Marcus Knuth, a member of the ruling party Venstre, suggested during the discussion that all foreign imams be prohibited from working in the country. Mette Frederiksen, the leader of the opposition Social Democrats, proposed that the governments of all European countries create a joint security system aimed at combating extremist imams, which would lead to the deportation of those who spoke against democracy and incited violence in other countries.
This discussion in the Danish parliament is the first of its kind in Europe. Following the deportation of extremist preacher Abu Qatada from the UK, which was an isolated case, there have been no similar precedents in recent years. Danish parliamentarians have put forward several initiatives related to security and counterterrorism that have become part of European practice. Therefore, the commencement of finding a solution to this issue in Copenhagen gives hope that the problem of radicalizing Islam in Europe will be overcome [Denmark wants to deport…, 2016].
A crucial aspect of countering terrorists who plan attacks against the civilian population and the Jewish community in Denmark is the resistance against radicals who recruit children and adolescents to carry out their plans. In March 2016, secret information concerning the arrest of a 16-year-old girl suspected of preparing a terrorist act in Denmark was revealed. Explosive materials, detonators, and propaganda materials were found by the police in the young girl's possession in the village of Kundby on the island of Zealand in mid-January. The police stated that the girl's transition to Islam and her subsequent preparation for a terrorist act were facilitated by her 24-year-old friend and local imams. According to the statement by the Western Zealand Police and the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), the schoolgirl was planning attacks on two schools in the country – the daytime Jewish school Carolineskolen in Copenhagen and Sydskolen school in Western Zealand.
As intended by the terrorists, the young age of the female terrorist was meant to help her gain easy access to school buildings and trigger explosive devices. Following the terrorist attack that took place in February 2015 at the Copenhagen synagogue, Islamists continue to view the Jewish community as a primary target for attacks, constantly formulating violent plans and seeking real ways to execute them [Danish teenager suspected…, 2016].
Experts and politicians in Denmark are increasingly critical of the country's government, which has pursued a liberal policy towards Islamists in recent years, allowing radical imams who incite violence against Jews to operate freely. "Denmark is a safe haven for Islamists", stated conservative Danish parliament member Naser Hader ["Denmark is a haven…", 2016]. Hader, who was born in Syria, emphasized that the country's leadership lacks a clear strategy for addressing the refugee crisis and combating radical Islam. "In Denmark, we have very liberal laws, making it easy for extremists to thrive... Furthermore, because Danish newspapers published caricatures of Muhammad in 2006, we are now among the top five enemies of radical Islamists worldwide", he added. "We need legal methods to expel radical preachers completely... About 30 individuals who traveled to Syria and Iraq for jihad visited a mosque that acts as a travel agency for the Islamic State", he explained in an interview with Der Spiegel.
Naser Hader moved to Denmark from Syria at the age of 11. He is part of a small group of prominent Muslim public figures in Europe who warn about the danger of Muslim radicalization in society and aim to combat this dangerous phenomenon ["Denmark is a haven…", 2016].
Not long ago, another well-known public figure, Arab poet Adonis, declared to all of Europe that "Islam cannot be modernized" as it is a "religion founded on a totalitarian foundation" ["Denmark is a haven…", 2016].
Recently, Danish parliament members and the government reached an agreement regarding radical imams. They will be revoking the citizenship of imams who incite acts of terrorism and inter-ethnic hatred. This political decision was preliminarily made in March 2016 following consultations between Denmark's major political parties. The initiative was proposed by the Danish People's Party, whose members aimed to combat radical imams like Abu Bilal Ismail from the Grimhoj Mosque in Aarhus. The idea received support from the ruling Liberal Party, opposition Social Democrats, and Conservative Party [Imam at Danish…, 2016].
Ismail gained notoriety across Europe after a video surfaced on the internet in July 2014, showing him calling for the "extermination of Zionist Jews" during a sermon in Berlin. However, his statement went unpunished by the police in both Germany and Denmark. He returned safely to Aarhus, where he received support from the head of the Grimhoj Mosque Association, Khosro Hassanzadeh, who claimed, "Ismail didn't say anything that other imams don't say; they all think the same way as others do worldwide" [Imam at Danish…, 2016]. Danish People's Party member Martin Henriksen emphasized, "The Danish Constitution allows for certain restrictions on freedom of religion... The Constitution states that everyone can practice their faith as long as it doesn't contradict morality or disrupt public order... Some of these imams are Danish citizens, and we believe that we should strip them of their citizenship" [Politisk flertal: Imamer…, 2016].
Khosro Hassanzadeh, the leader of the Grimhoj Mosque community known for his anti-Semitic views, expressed his disagreement with the government's actions. "We won't solve the problem this way, but we risk creating even more radicalization", he told Politiken. In the near future, parliament members will hold a series of meetings with the country's Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, to create a program for combating radical Islamists in Denmark. Judging from the recent terrorist attacks at the airport and metro in Brussels on March 22, Danish politicians are motivated to act swiftly [Politisk flertal: Imamer…, 2016].
Overall, the issue of the Islamist threat in Denmark is one of the most pressing concerns in contemporary Europe. The country is listed among the "enemies of Islam", and therefore, terrorist acts, including those targeting the Jewish community, could occur at any time. Notably, unlike other European countries, Denmark's political elite is determined to address the activities of Islamist organizations within the country, despite the stance of some liberal politicians who accuse the government of "violating the rights of national minorities and human rights" during counterterrorism measures. Along with the United Kingdom and some other European countries, Denmark leads in developing legislative initiatives to combat anti-Semitic forces and radical Islamists, and its experience can be used as a model for other countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, which are just beginning to establish security systems and counter Islamic terrorism.
In January 2022, the Danish government outlined 15 initiatives to combat the escalation of anti-Semitism in the country. Holocaust education will now be mandatory in schools, and countermeasures will be intensified in environments where hatred towards Jews is particularly prevalent. Efforts to inform Danes about Jewish culture will also be heightened. The Danish government initiated these measures after dozens of ant-Semitic acts were committed across Denmark on November 14, 2019, including the desecration of over 80 Jewish graves in Randers on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The government's efforts to combat anti-Semitism will be financially supported, which is good news for various cultural centers, such as the Danish Jewish Museum, which will be encouraged to hold more exhibitions and discussions on this issue. Furthermore, sociological research will be conducted, and "necessary efforts will continue to ensure the safety of Jews and Jewish institutions". "From European studies, we know that some Danish Jews avoid carrying items that can identify them as Jews and that some face persecution in school and at work simply because they are Jews", explained Minister of Justice Nick Hækkerup.
The Danish government has presented the following 15 measures to combat anti-Semitism:
– Enhanced monitoring of ant-Semitic incidents in Denmark.
– Collection of knowledge and research on anti-Semitism.
– Mandatory teaching of Holocaust history in primary and secondary schools.
– Promotion of education and preservation of Holocaust and other genocide memories.
– Disciplinary measures against teachers who do not adhere to dress code rules.
– Promoting dialogue among young people representing different faiths.
– Provision of more information about Jewish life and culture in Denmark.
– Provision of specialized consultations on anti-Semitism and its prevention.
– Enhanced training for police personnel on preventing radicalization and anti-Semitism.
– Maintenance of necessary security measures to protect Jews and Jewish institutions.
– Appointment of a national coordinator for combating anti-Semitism.
– Informing the Danish Working Environment Authority about anti-Semitism and offensive actions against other religious minorities in the workplace.
– Increased attention to anti-Semitism through dialogue with other countries.
– Expanded Danish participation in IHRA programmes.
– International celebration of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Danish Jews [Regeringen lancerer…, 2022].
Since 2015, the Danish government has carried out extensive work to identify organizations and individuals who promote antisemitic and terrorist ideas. Threats and attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites have been treated as serious matters by the authorities, and none have been ignored.
At the same time, Denmark faces important tasks in implementing the European Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life (2021–2030). To achieve this, it is necessary to build a strong team of analysts capable of responding to new challenges in this area and developing their own plans and strategies regarding the “Jewish question,” or making use of recommendations from a new research hub that is expected to be established in Brussels in the near future.
Literature
Buckser, A. (2003). After the rescue: Jewish identity and community in contemporary Denmark. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003, 271 p. ; Anderson, Yanique. (2015). Terrorist Created? The Radicalization of Muslims in Denmark by Senior Thesis. Hartford. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/232743383.pdf
Denmark wants to deport extremists imams. (2016, March 3). The Local newspaper. https://www.thelocal.dk/20160303/denmark-eyes-deportation-of-foreign-imams
Danish teenager suspected of planning bomb attack against Jewish school in Copenhagen by Lucie Rychla. (2016, March 8). Copenhagen Post. https://cphpost.dk/2016-03-08/news/danish-teenager-suspected-of-planning-bomb-attack-against-jewish-school-in-copenhagen/
"Denmark is a haven for islamists": Syrian origin politican by Chris Tomlinson. (2016, March 12). Breitbart. https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2016/03/12/denmark-is-a-haven-for-islamists-syrian-origin-conservative-politician/
Imam at Danish mosque: Stone women to death. (2016, February 29). The Local newspaper. http://www.thelocal.dk/20160229/denmark-mosque-teaches-stoning-and-whipping
Politisk flertal: Imamer skal kunne miste statsborgerskab. (2016, March 21). Politico. http://www.politiko.dk/nyheder/politisk-flertal-imamer-skal-kunne-miste-statsborgerskab
Regeringen lancerer handlingsolan mod antisemitisme. (2022, January 25). Justits Ministeriet. https://www.justitsministeriet.dk/pressemeddelelse/regeringen-lancerer-handlingsplan-mod-antisemitisme/
Dr Oleh Kozerod, Ph.D., D.Litt.
photo by Martin Lindner, Wikimedia commons.
