The Danish Parliament has approved a new law prohibiting foreign countries from supporting or financing mosques in the region. This action follows claims that Muslim countries such as Algeria, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have spent hundreds of millions of euros to spread Islam in Europe.
Major political parties of Denmark supported the proposal of the new law. Mattias Tesfaye, the country’s Social Democrat Immigration and Integration Minister, hailed the legislation as a significant step toward combating “Islamist terrorism.”
Without mentioning a religion, the law says, “The intent of the Act is to prohibit natural and lawful persons, including foreign state authorities and state-run organisations and corporations, from acting toward or weakening democracy, fundamental freedoms, and human rights by making donations.”
Anyone who receives one or more donations that individually or together exceed DKK 10,000 (€1,350; $1,600) within 12 consecutive calendar months, from a natural or legal person who is included on the public ban list … is punishable by a fine.”
Denmark is the second European country to restrict foreign donations to mosque. The government acted after a news article in January 2020 reported that the Taiba Mosque in Denmark’s Nrrebro district had obtained 4.9 million Danish kroner from Saudi Arabia.
Taiba Mosque is said to be the home of a large number of Islamists accused of terrorism-related offenses. Turkey, on the other hand, is said to have donated funds to build 27 mosques in Denmark, including in the cities of Aarhus, Ringsted, and Roskilde, as well as in the towns of Fredericia, Hedehusene, and Holbk.
According to a 2020 estimate, Denmark has a population of 2,50,000 Muslims, accounting for 4.4 percent of the total population, up from 0.6 percent in 1980.
