Denmark: Information on racism and violence directed against minority groups, particularly Tamils, from civilians and the state, and on the adequacy of state protection (update to DNK25146.E of 17 September 1996)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | DNK27790.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Denmark: Information on racism and violence directed against minority groups, particularly Tamils, from civilians and the state, and on the adequacy of state protection (update to DNK25146.E of 17 September 1996), 1 September 1997, DNK27790.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac522b.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided to the DIRB in an 11 September 1997 telephone interview with a representative of the Danish Refugee Council in Copenhagen. During the last few years there have been a number of incidents involving hate speech in Denmark, including hate speech by representatives of political parties that have seats in the Danish parliament, but the source is not aware of Tamils in particular being singled out for racist hostility. The source stated that he believes Somalis and other Muslim groups such as Iranians, Iraqis and Palestinians are the main targets of racist rhetoric in Denmark. The source indicated that last week a member of the Danish parliament for the Progress Party, Tom Behnke, stated that all Somalis in Denmark should be put in airplanes and dropped by parachute over Somalia.
For information on anti-immigrant radio broadcasting by Denmark's National Socialist Movement, please see the attached 20 March 1996 article from Agence France-Presse.
On 22 June 1995, former Danish justice minister Erik Ninn-Hansen received a four-month suspended prison sentence for having illegally prevented the entry to Denmark of families of Tamil refugees resident in the country (Financial Times 23 June 1995). Please see the attached article for details.
For information on immigration to Denmark anti-immigrant and racist groups in Denmark, please see the attached article by Karl-Kristian Lammers and the attached excerpts from an article by Klaus Rothstein.
For information on Amnesty International's concerns about incidents in 1996 involving immigrants in Denmark, please see Amnesty International Report 1997, available at Regional Documentation Centres.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Danish Refugee Council, Copenhagen. 11 September 1997. Telephone interview with a representative.
Agence France-Presse. 20 March 1996. Slim Allagui. "Europe's First Neo-Nazi Radio." (Global NewsBank)
Attachments
Agence France-Presse. 20 March 1996. Slim Allagui. "Europe's First Neo-Nazi Radio." (Global NewsBank)
Financial Times [London]. 23 June 1995. Hilary Barnes. "Danish Ex-Minister Found Guilty." (NEXIS)
Lammers, Karl-Kristian. 1996. "Denmark," Extremism from the Atlantic to the Urals. Coordinated by Jean-Yves Camus. Paris: Éditions de l'aube/European Center for Research and Action on Racism and Antisemitism (CERA), pp. 75-80.
Rothstein, Klaus. n.d. "Denmark," Extremism in Europe. Coordinated by Jean-Yves Camus. Paris: Éditions de l'aube/European Center for Research and Action on Racism and Antisemitism (CERA.), pp. 110-13, 115.
