Danish soldiers banned from looking at trophy photos

Defence minister demands an explanation

Danish soldiers deployed to Iraq have reportedly been ordered to look away when Iraqi soldiers try to show them ‘trophy photos’ of dead IS soldiers

According to Defence documents obtained by Information newspaper, from February this year, Danish soldiers have been ordered to firmly refuse to look at trophy photos – photos of the corpses of dead enemy soldiers – and if necessary end the conversation and leave the area.

A major problem
And that’s a problem, according to the Danish branch of the human rights organisation Amnesty International and a number of politicians, who contend the procedure means that Denmark is purposely closing its eyes to possible human rights abuses.

“It’s a way to remain ignorant about possible human rights violations and war crimes. It’s comparable to sticking your fingers in your ears and singing loudly to avoid hearing something you don’t want to hear,” Claus Juul, a legal consultant with Amnesty International Denmark, told Information.

READ MORE: Danish defence minister visits troops in Iraq

Explanation pending
Radikale and Enhedslisten have vehemently criticised the procedure, and in a mail to Information the defence minister, Claus Hjort Frederiksen, has vowed to look into it.

Frederiksen said he was not behind the change in procedure, but would demand an explanation from the Defence Command regarding the issue.

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