Hedegaard lashes out following failed assassination attempt

The outspoken critic of Islam launches an attack on the country’s media and politicians in his first statement since last week’s attack

Lars Hedegaard has criticised the country’s politicians and media following the failed attempt on his life last week.

In a statement published on the Danish Free Press Society's online magazine, Sappho, on Saturday, he directly condemned national newspaper Politiken and the country’s political parties for doing too little against what he views as problematic immigration and attacks on the freedom of speech.

“Politiken’s editor-in-chief Bo Lidegaard may well say he’s happy to hear I’m alive,” Hedegaard wrote. “But he was also quick to explain how much of a miserable creep I am, due to my ‘nonsensical, hateful and degrading statements about Muslims in Denmark’.”

Hedegaard went on to defend himself, referring to his acquittal on racism charges by the Supreme Court, and insisted that his views are not against individual Muslims, but rather against the religion they follow.

“Muslims are, in my opinion, victims of a sick political ideology that is more akin to Nazism and communism than anything else,” Hedegaard continued.

Hedegaard went on to accuse Denmark's political parties of failing to remove the so-called 'racism paragraph' from the penal code, which prosecutes anyone who “ridicules a lawfully-existing religious community, punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to four months".

“Politicians won’t take action against immigrant Muslims who have not come to here to integrate … but because Denmark is a good place to receive social assistance,” Hedegaard wrote. “All the while they disseminate their barbaric beliefs and threaten the lives of Danes.”

Hedegaard also made special reference to Dansk Folkeparti (DF) and Liberal Alliance as the only political parties who “dared to stick their necks out” on national immigration issues.

DF's Pia Kjærsgaard was quick to join Hedegaard’s criticism of the government, posting a statement on her Facebook page that called for the removal of paragraph 266b of the penal code, the 'racism paragraph'.

“Why don't we see the abolition of the blasphemy clause?” Kjærsgaard posted online. “Shouldn't we get rid of paragraph 266b so that we can freely express our views without being accused by the media-hungry radicals … of breaking the so-called racism paragraph?”

Despite Hedegaard and Kjærsgaard's criticism of Denmark's blasphemy laws, Danes are generally supportive of the regulations in place and do not want the laws to be repealed, according to a study carried out by liberal think-tank CEPOS in September 2012.




  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Here Comes The Sun…

    Here Comes The Sun…

    I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

  • Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Fees were raised to reflect processing costs and curb repeat applications, creating debate over whether the new charges erect barriers to political participation for internationals.

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.