IS fighters to stop receiving Danish unemployment benefits

Government will cut benefits to Islamic State militants

Jan 17, 2017

Danes were shocked to find out in December that at least 34 Islamic State (IS) members were receiving unemployment while fighting for the terrorist group.

And now the employment minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, has demanded that fighters repay the state some 672,000 kroner, according to Ekstra Bladet.

“We must stop foreign fighters from financing their travels to Syria to fight for Islamic State using public money,” said Poulsen.

Part of a larger bill
Cutting benefits to those who leave is part of the new anti-terrorism bill prepared by the government, which is primarily focused on preventing the spread of IS ideology in Denmark.

“We must prevent more vulnerable young people from becoming radicalised and supporting terrorist organisations,” Poulsen said.

The legislation criminalises “the dissemination of terrorist propaganda”, and allows the blocking of websites distributing extremist materials. According to intelligence agency PET at least 135 people have left Denmark to fight for IS.

TOP STORIES

5 Mistakes I Made When I Moved to Denmark

Here are five mistakes I made that helped me understand that belonging isn’t a strategy—it’s a practice. This isn’t a story of struggle—it’s a reflection on growth, told through the lens of emotional intelligence.
Analysis shows that many students from Bangladesh are enrolled in Danish universities

Earlier this year, the Danish government changed the law on access for people from third world countries to the Danish labor market. Yet, there may still be a shortcut that goes through universities
Danish Flower company accused of labor abuse in Türkiye

Queen Company, a Denmark-origin flower producer with pristine sustainability credentials, is under fire for alleged labor rights violations at its Turkish operation, located in Dikili, İzmir. Workers in the large greenhouse facility have been calling decent work conditions for weeks. The Copenhagen Post gathered testimonies from the workers to better understand the situation
Advice for expats: Navigating Life as an International in Denmark

Beginning this month, Expat Counselling will be contributing a monthly article to The Copenhagen Post, offering guidance, tools, and reflections on the emotional and social aspects of international life in Denmark. The first column is about Strategies for emotional resilience
New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

Several mayors and business leaders across Denmark are not satisfied with the agreement that the government, the trade union movement and employers made last week. More internationals are needed than the agreement provides for
The Danish Connection: Roskilde gossip, a DNA scandal & why young Danes are having less sex

With half of the population of Copenhagen at Roskilde this week, Eva away in Aalborg and the weather being a bit of a joke , Melissa and Rachel bring you a chatty episode to cheer you up looking into three of the top stories in Denmark this week.

Connect club

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

Summer Greetings from
The Connect Club
☀️⛱️😎

Career

“It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality
Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.
New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Jobs