Report: Right-wing groups pose greatest threat

A right-wing political party identified in a government report as “illegitimate” has been invited to speak in election debates in upper-secondary schools

There are 12 extreme, violent and anti-democratic groups operating in western and central Jutland, according to the preliminary results of a nationwide study.

Of the 12 groups, three are highly organised right-wing organisations, five are loosely organised right-wing groups, and four are Islamic groups.

The study was carried out for the government by the National Centre for Social Research (SFI), which will publish its full findings about all 12 police districts by June 2014. SFI will not comment on the results of the study.

Report to help fight extremism
The report was released today by the social affairs and integration minister, Annette Vilhelmsen (Socialistisk Folkeparti), who argues that violent right-wing environments present the greatest threat to police forces.

“The report gives us documented knowledge that can be used to qualify and target work to stop young people from getting drawn into extreme groups,” Vilhelmsen stated in a press release. “We need to fight anti-democratic forces and fight to ensure that everyone can participate in our open and democratic community.”

Extremists either right-wing or Islamic
SFI gathered the information using questionnaires, interviews, observation and media studies and identified groups according to three main criteria:

  • Groups that promote a simplified world view in which another group is singled out as an enemy.
  • Groups that promote intolerance or a lack of respect for other people’s freedoms and rights.
  • Groups that legitimise violent and threatening behaviour in response to social groups and conditions they disagree with.

SFI found that there is a grey zone between ideologically-orientated and gang-like groups and that crime and religious and political extremism are closely connected.

It also found that all the extreme groups in central and western Jutland police districts were either right-wing or Islamic.

“There is nothing to substantiate that local left-wing groups express anti-democratic opinions or employ violent or illegal or illegitimate actions,” the report stated.

READ MORE: Seven indicted for hacking and violence against political adversaries

The report identifies Danskernes Parti (DP), the Danish Defence League and Devils Choice as the most organised groups that fit the criteria.

Of the three, the report focuses most on DP because it systematically promotes its anti-immigrant perspective and wants to strip non-ethnic Danes of their rights.

“Danskernes Parti can also be considered illegitimate as it actively seeks to limit the rights and presence of immigrants,” the report stated.

DP – which according to the report only has around 100 paying members – is making a major push in the local elections and is fielding candidates in six councils and all five regional authorities.

READ MORE: Far-right party accused of being a neo-Nazi cover

Concern has already been raised about DP's ideological basis, given that its leader, Daniel Carlsen, is a former member of the neo-Nazi party DNSB.

Despite these concerns, the party has been invited to speak at election debates in eight upper-secondary schools in central Jutland in the run-up to the November general election.

DP speaking at schools
The debates are being organised by the youth think-tank Youglobe, which wrote in a comment to The Copenhagen Post  that they only facilitate the meetings and do not control who is invited.

Youglobe referred The Copenhagen Post to the local authority Region Midtjylland. A spokesperson there said that they are obliged to invite all the parties that are running and that they did not have the right to exclude any particular party.

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