An Open Letter to Obama: On Danish Racism

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>HATE SPEECH & XENOPHOBIA

Danish hate speech & xenophobia documented

By Rune Engelbreth Larsen

These quotes are but a very few examples of hate speech and xenophobia in the political debate in Denmark, where it has been a widespread and increasing phenomenon since the mid-nineties. A few years ago there was a growing international awareness of the fact, that this type of propaganda - which in most Western countries is limited to racist extremists without political influence - constitutes an alarming tendency in mainstream Danish politics.

However, this awareness is declining, although the problem is increasing.

To prevent further mainstream acceptance of outspoken propaganda labelled as mere »criticism of Islam« or as innocent »concern about integration«, it is imperative to document the actual contents of Danish xenophobic rhetorics - and speak out against it.

As mentioned this is only a translation of a few examples - several houndreds of xenophobic and islamophobic quotes in Danish can be found here - (more will eventually be translated to English).

Rune Engelbreth Larsen

• Alex Ahrendtsen
Parliamentary Candidate for Danish People's Party

• Kåre Bluitgen
Author (Bluitgen started the Cartoon Crisis in September 2005)

• Mogens Camre
Danish People's Party. MEP.

• Vagn Eriksen
Chairman, Danish People's Party in Odense, Council- Parliament- and County candidate

• Bertel Haarder
Venstre, Member of Danish parliament, Minister

• Ib Krog Hansen
Vice Chairman, Danish People's Party in Ringsted, Council Candidate

• Martin Henriksen
Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party

• Pia Kjærsgaard
Chairperson, Danish People's Party and Member of Parliament

• Søren Krarup
Priest, Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party

• Jesper Langballe
Priest, Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party

• Michael Rex
Danish People's Party, Councillor in Næstved Municipality

DANISH HATE SPEECH & XENOPHOBIA

ALEX AHRENDTSEN (1967-)

Parliamentary Candidate for Danish People's Party (2005) and Councillor for Odense City Council

»The Quran is indeed, almost a religious Nazism.«

Politiken (daily newspaper), November 15, 2005

KÅRE BLUITGEN (1959-)

Author (Who started the Cartoon Crisis in September 2005)

»Leftwing should start an offensive by parading through Nørrebrogade in Copenhagen, wearing Burkhas, Chadors and long coats, pushing a sea of folding prams and baby carriages and in the end, throw all this in a container at Blågårds square as well as splash the Quran with mensuration's blood.«

From his book: 'For the benefit of the blacks', 2002, p.70

MOGENS CAMRE (1936-)

Danish People's Party. MEP. (1999-), Former Member of Danish Parliament for Social Democratic Party (1968-1987)

»Let me say it clearly: Muslims should live in Muslim-Country, and this is not here.«

Speech at the Danish People's Party's annual convention, September 19, 2004

»Islam threatens our future, and we shall prevent Islam from setting any agenda in Europe. This faith belongs to a dark past and its political goal is as destructive as that of Nazism. Islam should not have the possibility to take Europe away from us.«

Speech on Constitution Day, June 5, 2004

»We should withdraw from UN Refugee Convention and we should block EU's Charter for Fundamental Rights which is directed against the Europeans. We must change the Alien's Law, and if need be we must change both the Danish Constitution and Penal Law so that it becomes possible to defend democracy and to send political-religious rebels, criminals and parasites out of the country. This is the final call.«

Horsens Folkeblad (daily newspaper), May 18, 2004

»All western countries are infiltrated by Muslims. Some of them talk to us nicely while they are waiting to grow in numbers and remove us.«

Speech at Danish People's Party's annual convention, September 16, 2001

»What we are facing with is not just a short term military operation. It is a question of driving this evil ideology out of the western civilisation. Islam should never get a place in our countries.«

Speech at Danish People's Party's annual convention, September 16, 2001

VAGN ERIKSEN

Chairman, Danish People's Party in Odense, Council- Parliament- and County candidate (2001), candidate for Odense Council (2005)

»All Muslims should be thrown out of Denmark.«

Speech at Danish People's Party's annual convention, September 16, 2001

BERTEL HAARDER (1944-)

Venstre, Member of Danish parliament (1975 -), Education- and Church Minister (2005-) Integration Minister (2001-2005), MEP (1994-2001)

»... ordinary Danes are subject to diverse types of social control. We go to work, because we are concerned about what our neighbours and family would say, and because we want to set a good example for our children. But foreigners seldom have such inhibitions. They live in a sub-culture, outside the Danish tribe. That is why, they are quick to learn those possibilities where you can get money without making an effort.«

Berlingske Tidende (daily newspaper), September 20, 2003

IB KROG HANSEN

Vice Chairman, Danish People's Party in Ringsted (2004-), Council Candidate (2001)

»All Muslims should leave Denmark. This is harshly put because there are human beings among them. But how can we differentiate?«

Danish People's Party's annual convention, September 16, 2001

MARTIN HENRIKSEN (1981-)

Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party (2005-)

»Islam has been a terrorist organisation from its very beginning.«

Politiken (daily newspaper), December 2, 2005

PIA KJÆRSGAARD (1947-)

Chairperson, Danish People's Party and Member of Parliament (1995-). Former Member of Parliament for Progressive Party (1984-1995)

»Not in their wildest imagination would anyone [in 1900] have imagined, that large parts of Copenhagen and other Danish towns would be populated by people who are at a lower stage of civilisation, with their own primitive and cruel customs like honour killings, forced marriages, halal slaughtering and blood-feuds. This is exactly what is happening now. Thousands upon thousands of persons, who apparently - civilisationally, culturally and spiritually - lives in the year of 1005 instead of 2005, that have come to a country [Denmark] left the dark ages hundreds of years ago.«

Weekly Commentary, June 13 2005

SØREN KRARUP (1937-)

Priest, Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party (2001-)

»Where Christianity rules, matters are related to the love of the tings that one holds dear. On the other hand, where Islam rules, matters are related to a higher selfrightousness which logically culminates in an all consuming hatred and a scary urge to exterminate other people.«

Berlingske Tidende (daily newspaper), February 2, 2005

JESPER LANGBALLE (1939-)

Priest, Member of Parliament for Danish People's Party (2001-)

»Islam is a plague upon Europe.«

Speech from the podium of Danish Parliament, May 31, 2002

»Judaism, because of its Jesus-negating teachings, is an apostasy and blasphemy.«

Kristeligt Dagblad (daily newspaper), November 3, 1999

MICHAEL REX

Danish People's Party, Councillor in Næstved Municipality (2001-)

»Islam is not a religion in any traditional sense. It is a terrorist organisation which tries to gain world domination through violence.«

Speech at Danish People's annual convention, September 16, 2001