Boje Calls for an Islam Ban in Parliament — His Programme Partner Backs the Speech, Not the Ban

Lars Boje Mathiesen, founder and leader of Borgernes Parti, took the rostrum in the Folketing's opening debate on Thursday evening and called for Islam to be banned in Denmark. "Never before have these words been said from this rostrum: Ban Islam," he said, according to TV 2's live coverage.

TV 2 listed the central measures in his speech: remigration of Muslims, a ban on social control, removing Islam's official recognition, a total ban on halal meat in public institutions, no state support for blessings, and a ban on headscarves in public institutions.

“Vi skal bevare det danske folk uden at ofre Danmarks frihedsrettigheder.”

“We must preserve the Danish people without sacrificing Denmark's freedoms.”

— Rasmus Munch Søndergaard (@Rasmus_MunchS) on X, 8 October

One red line

Rasmus Munch Søndergaard, a lawyer and political activist, wrote on X shortly after that Boje had given a "very brave" speech and said things too few dare to say: that the Danes are a people and must not be replaced.

He says Boje has now taken in more parts of a programme the two of them worked on together. On the ban, he draws a line: he says free speech has been his speciality and passion, and that he does not support abolishing religious freedom in Denmark.

The referendum demand

According to Søndergaard, the shared programme includes putting the European Court of Human Rights' role in Danish immigration policy to a referendum. He calls the court's influence an unconstitutional and undemocratic takeover, says a referendum is the only way forward for the whole right wing, and asks: "Where is Dansk Folkeparti?"

In the chamber, TV 2 reported that only three MPs made remarks on Boje's speech. His party is down to one seat in the Folketing — his own. Enhedslisten's Pelle Dragsted replied that Boje and his party do not represent Denmark and the Danes.