Denmark's extreme right beefs up anti-immigrant line ahead of vote
COPENHAGEN — The Danish government's far-right ally in parliament has made immigration, especially by Muslims, its main target of attacks ahead of next week's legislative elections. In its election campaign for the November 13 poll, the Danish People's Party (DPP) blasts Muslim immigrants for not respecting Danish traditions and for taking advantage of the Scandinavian country's generous welfare system.
One poster shows a woman wearing a Muslim headscarf withdrawing money from a cash dispenser machine drawn with the logo of the welfare benefits office, with the caption: "Make demands on the foreigners. Now they must contribute!". Another shows a group of veiled women under the headline: "Follow the country's traditions and customs or leave."
Two days after the government called snap elections for November 13, the DPP presented a series of law proposals aimed at Muslim immigrants, including bans on using the Muslim headscarf in public places and on special worship areas for Muslims in the workplace. The party also called for a ban on halal meat in daycare centres and on special locker rooms for Muslim schoolgirls. "There is every reason to tighten the screws, because Danish values are under pressure," said deputy head of the party Peter Skaarup.
Martin Sullivan