Denmark wants to resettle ghettos – areas of compact residence of people with migrant backgrounds
Denmark compiles an annual "ghetto list"
As Deutsche Welle notes, since 2010 Denmark has annually published a so-called "ghetto list." This officially designates areas whose residents, in the authorities' opinion, are insufficiently integrated into Danish society.
The definition of "ghetto" applies to urban areas with a population of over 1,000 people, more than half of whom are of "non-Western origin." The latter term is also actively used by Danish authorities and includes people who arrived in the country from non-Western countries, as well as their descendants.
To be included in the "ghetto list," an area must meet at least two of four criteria: the unemployment rate exceeds 40 percent, over 60 percent of residents aged 39-50 have no secondary education, the average income of residents is more than 55 percent below the regional average, and the crime rate is three times higher than the national average. Currently, the "ghetto list" includes 15 areas in various cities, with another 25 candidates for inclusion.
Danish sociologist and publicist Aydin Soei is one of the critics of this approach. The list does not help but hinders the integration of migrants into Danish society, and also creates many stereotypes and negative perceptions about residents of "disadvantaged areas," the expert emphasizes.
Residents of "non-Western origin" are planned to be relocated
In 2018, Denmark adopted a package of legislative measures that tightened requirements for "ghetto areas." For example, all children over one year old must attend state kindergarten there to immerse themselves in Danish cultural and linguistic environment. Otherwise, parents may lose child benefits.
However, the main measure enshrined in legislation was the actual resettlement of "ghetto areas." According to the plan, the share of social housing in such places should not exceed 40 percent by 2030.
The Danish government, however, considered this insufficient. In March 2021, the kingdom's authorities presented a bill proposing to reduce the share of social housing residents of "non-Western origin" in problem areas to 30 percent by 2030.
According to the document – which still needs parliamentary approval – families affected by this will be relocated to other areas. The country's authorities believe this will help transition to a more mixed type of living for different social groups and prevent the emergence of "parallel communities." At the same time, it is proposed to abandon the use of the word "ghetto" in official documents.
"Non-Western origin" – ethnic discrimination?
"We are concerned that the criterion of ethnicity is emphasized in the bill even more than before. When ethnicity is specified as a criterion, it always causes concern," notes Nanna Margrethe Krusaa, senior legal advisor at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
According to her, three complaints against current legislative norms affecting residents of "ghetto areas" are currently under consideration in Danish courts. The human rights activist believes that in specific cases there has been discrimination and a violation of national and European legislation.
Which countries does Denmark consider Western?
The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior rejects these accusations. They explain that the category "non-Western origin" corresponds to the terminology used by the country's statistical office.
According to this classification, the group of "Western" countries includes EU countries, as well as the United Kingdom, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, Vatican City, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
"All other countries are considered non-Western. The division of countries into Western and non-Western does not depend on the political system, religion, culture, or economy of a particular country," the ministry emphasizes. At the same time, the department acknowledges that, along with unemployment, education, and crime rates, a large number of residents of "non-Western origin" is an indicator signaling problems with migrant integration in certain neighborhoods.
"Stigmatization of residents with migrant backgrounds"
Critics, in turn, emphasize that such bills stigmatize Danish residents with migrant backgrounds – especially Muslims and people with different skin colors.
Ozlem Cekic, one of the first Muslim women to become a member of the Danish parliament, considers the current legislation and the new bill counterproductive. "I agree with the government's opinion that there are big problems in some areas," the parliamentarian says in an interview with DW. However, according to her, they are not serious enough to evict people from the areas where they live, she emphasizes.
Cekic also notes that the bill generally affects marginalized groups. According to her, it is not only about Muslims or migrants, but also about representatives of the working class. Many residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods do not have a stable income.
"You are not a Dane, you are a Muslim"
Today, Danish migration legislation is one of the strictest in Europe. At the same time, unlike many other EU countries, this course is supported by all major Danish parties, both right-wing and left-wing.
Professor Rune Stubager of Aarhus University suggests that the new bill will be passed even if courts rule the criterion of “non-Western origin” illegal. And even though, according to the Danish statistical office, in 2020 only 5.3 percent of the country's residents of “non-Western origin” lived in “ghetto areas”.
In total, residents of foreign origin make up 11 percent of the country's 5.8 million population. Of these, 58 percent arrived in Denmark from so-called “non-European” countries.
Ozlem Cekic is convinced that the current government's course will only worsen the situation in the long term. “Children from ‘ghetto areas’ consider themselves Danes. They were born in Denmark, have Danish passports, speak Danish and go to school here. But they are constantly told: ‘You are not a Dane, you are a Muslim,’” Cekic points out. “Can we expect them to be loyal to the state if it does not accept them as they are?” the MP wonders.