For about the last ten years, there’s been a prevailing view among liberal elites that welcoming millions of immigrants from developing nations into Europe is the right step.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with no children of her own, marked this decision with what many saw as feigned optimism, encouraging her fellow citizens with the slogan, “We can do it!” She and others embraced the arrival of young men, often from regions with significant Islamic extremist activity, like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
While Europe demonstrated that such an approach was feasible, the fallout was extensive and deeply significant.
For instance, there’s been a staggering rise in crime—including sexual offenses—across the continent, as highlighted by data from the European Union. Reports indicate an increase of 141% from 2013 to 2023. Additionally, there’s been a notable surge in Islamic terrorist incidents. In France, at least 53 attacks were recorded between 2013 and April 2024, leading to over 290 deaths linked to these events.
Countries grappling with the consequences of the immigration crisis are seeing changes in policy. Denmark, in particular, is tightening its grip on immigration in response to these issues.
Immigration Minister Morten Bodkov recently shared with a Danish news outlet that the government intends to prohibit the Islamic call to prayer. He expressed concerns that certain northern regions now resemble “the suburbs of Islamabad.”
Boduskov remarked, “The call to prayer shouldn’t echo from rooftops in Denmark. There’s simply no place for that here. When you walk through Denmark, you shouldn’t feel like you’re outside of Islamabad.”
Denmark, known for having been cautious in admitting immigrants over the past decade, has similarly resisted Islamic incursions into public domains, taking steps to make the country less appealing to potential immigrants.
For example, actions taken have caused some friction with European Union officials regarding, what’s been described as “parallel societies,” and the forced relocation of immigrants from areas with significant foreign populations.
The Danish government has also rejected proposals that would reinforce Danish traditions, such as allowing full Islamic veils like the burqa or niqab in public. Additionally, initiatives have been put forth to ensure that public schools continue to serve pork and that immigrants actively partake in Christmas celebrations, even going so far as to eliminate prayer rooms in schools.
Some regions have already enacted regulations against the use of loudspeakers for the Islamic call to prayer, but Boduskov feels that the creeping “Islamization” is infringing “too much into public spaces” and advocates for a comprehensive ban.
This isn’t the first time Denmark’s immigration minister has attempted to ban the Islamic call to prayer. Earlier investigations into the legality of such bans found them to endure past elections and the resultant shifts in government.
Currently, Islam is the largest non-Christian religion in Denmark, with approximately 270,000 followers, which includes two substantial mosques in Copenhagen and roughly 100 more scattered throughout the country.
