Indicator history

E.g. the Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti).

In ECRI's third national report on Denmark, §§ 104-105, the Committee "notes with deep concern that, as indicated above, the climate in Denmark has worsened since its second report and that there is a pervasive atmosphere of intolerance and xenophobia against refugees, asylum seekers, as well as minority groups in general and Muslims in particular. The media, together with politicians play a major role in creating this atmosphere. As also previously indicated, members of the Danish People’s Party, have, on several occasions, made shockingly racist statements in the media, without being suspended from this party. The police’s reluctance to bring charges against those who incite racial hatred in accordance with Article 266 b) of the Criminal Code and the fact that freedom of expression is placed above all else have contributed to giving free reign to some politicians to make derogatory statements in the media about minority groups. Moreover, the fact that the Government depends on the Danish People’s Party to maintain its coalition has given this party considerable leverage, which enables it to push through an anti-immigration agenda and to pass laws which in effect disproportionately disadvantage minority groups […] The relative impunity with which politicians in general and members of the Danish People’s Party in particular regularly make incendiary statements against minority groups in the media, has contributed to worsening these groups’ image with the majority of ethnic Danes. The general public is thus constantly given the impression that integration has failed and that minority groups are to blame as they do not wish to integrate. In this regard, parts of the media do not provide a forum in which minority groups who do not conform to these stereotypes can express themselves. Thus, the disproportionate space given in the media to negative stories about minority groups in general and Muslims in particular has succeeded in convincing many ethnic Danes that these groups are a threat to Danish society".