Particle.news
Download on the App Store
12 ARTICLES
·
11h ago

Denmark Relaunches Review of Nationwide Ban on Islamic Call to Prayer

Morten Bødskov says the move is meant to protect Danish public space as the government tests whether a national prohibition can meet constitutional limits.

Image
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - MARCH 21: The Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tharir holds its Friday prayer at the Parliament Square in commemoration of the victims of the Christchurch massacre on March 21, 2019 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Speaker of the House, Pia Kaersgaard, had asked the police not to allow the ceremony, as it may threaten public order. The ceremony was met by counter demonstrations. The goal of Hizb ut Tharir is the implementation of the Islamic Sharia law. (Photo by Ole Jensen/Getty Images)
Image
Image

Overview

  • The government under Immigration Minister Morten Bødskov has reopened a legal review to see if a nationwide ban on the Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, can be written to survive Denmark’s constitutional protections for religious freedom.
  • Bødskov publicly argued the call to prayer should not be heard 'over Danish rooftops' and warned parts of the country 'shouldn't sound like a suburb of Islamabad,' framing the effort as a defence of public space and cultural identity.
  • This is the third time a Social Democratic minister has pursued such a legal path after earlier attempts in 2020 and 2025, and no legislation has been tabled or passed yet.
  • Many municipalities already limit outdoor loudspeaker broadcasts for noise reasons, notably Copenhagen where bylaws and voluntary mosque agreements effectively prevent outdoor Adhan loudspeaker use.
  • Legal experts and rights groups say a national ban would almost certainly face constitutional and European human rights challenges, and the policy fits a wider government push of stricter integration and immigration measures that could deepen domestic political divisions.