Denmark plans azaan ban. It fears turning into a 'suburb of Islamabad'

Denmark has revived plans for a nationwide ban on the Islamic call to prayer - the azaan - amid growing anxieties over 'Islamisation' in the country, according to a report in The Daily Mail. The plan was announced by the country's hardline immigration minister Morten Bodskov, who emphasised that parts of the country have come to feel like "a suburb of Islamabad".

In unusually blunt remarks, Bodskov told Danish news agency Ritzau that creeping "Islamisation" in Denmark was taking up too much public space. Muslims account for around 5% of Denmark's population, making them the largest minority community. "The call to prayer should not be heard over Danish rooftops," the Leftist leader of the Social Democrats party said.

The remarks come at a time when Denmark has been pursuing some of Europe's toughest immigration policies under Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Earlier this year, Denmark passed a law banning the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces. It has also directed educational institutions to remove prayer rooms.

"It has no place in Denmark, and you shouldn't be in any doubt whether you have ended up in a suburb of Islamabad when you walk around Denmark," Bodskov further said.

DENMARK'S TRYST WITH AZAAN BAN

Such a proposal, however, is not new. Denmark has previously tried, in 2020 and 2025, to enact a law banning the azaan in public places. However, the proposal never moved to the Parliament stage.

However, parts of the European country already restrict public calls to prayer. For example, in Copenhagen, strict noise regulations prevent mosques from broadcasting the azaan through loudspeakers. The Grand Mosque of Copenhagen does not conduct an outdoor call to prayer.

However, a nationwide ban on a religious practice outright is likely to invite legal challenges. Denmark's Constitution protects the right to public worship, and such a move is bound to raise concerns of violation of fundamental protections.

Bodskov said the government would first investigate whether the Muslim call to prayer can be outlawed nationwide, while remaining compatible with constitutional safeguards for religious freedom.

Critics have argued that the proposal targeted one faith disproportionately and warned that it could infringe on religious liberty. In recent years, anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe has reached an alarming high. Islamic practices like azaan and the wearing of hijab have also drawn scrutiny.

In fact, for the past few years, Islamophobia has become a polarising topic in Denmark, often intertwining with narratives and policies on immigration.

In 2023, anti-Islam activists in Denmark burned and damaged several copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, triggering international uproar. Amid global pressure, Denmark brought in a law banning the burning of religious scriptures.

As Frederiksen begins her third term in office following March's snap polls, it remains to be seen how her government implements the ban on the Islamic call to prayer.