Minister: Asylum-seekers should wait with baptisms

Refugees would avoid accusations that conversions are a ploy to gain residence, Bertel Haarder contends

The culture and church minister, Bertel Haarder, has urged Danish priests not to baptise asylum-seekers and refugees before their asylum cases have been processed, amid concerns they are doing so to purely strengthen their argument to stay in Denmark.

The news comes hot on the heels of revelations yesterday that at least 110 asylum-seekers and refugees had converted to Christianity in Denmark between December 2015 and February 2016.

“It’s for their own good and to spare them from being accused of doing it in order to get asylum,” Haarder said. “It’s a case I will bring up with the bishops and at the upcoming bishops’ council.”

READ MORE: More asylum-seekers converting to Christianity

Cases reprocessed 
According to figures from the Church of Denmark, upwards of 300 asylum-seekers are currently taking part in preparations for a Christian baptism.

Last year, the refugee council Flygtningenævnet processed 55 cases in which the applicant stated that they risked persecution in their homelands because they were apostates.

Of those 55 cases, 42 were granted residence in Denmark. Some 31 had initially been rejected, but after converting to Christianity, their cases were reprocessed.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

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

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs