US EditionEU Court Says Denmark's Ethnic-Based 'Ghetto Law' May Be Discriminatory
The ECJ's preliminary ruling highlights that Denmark's 2018 law could lead to ethnic discrimination by increasing eviction risks in minority neighborhoods, pending national court review.
- On Dec 18, the European Court of Justice ruled Denmark's 2018 'ghetto law' could amount to ethnic discrimination, but left the final decision to national courts in Denmark.
- Denmark's 2018 law on parallel societies designates a "transformation area" if more than 50% of residents are non-Western and requires public housing associations to cut social housing to 40% by January 2030.
- The ECJ warned the law could increase eviction risks for residents of targeted neighbourhoods and noted ethnic origin must be assessed by several factors, while implementation cuts social housing by sales, demolitions, or lease endings.
- The Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing said it would read the European court's verdict carefully as the case returns to national proceedings.
- Seen recently as a model, Denmark has inspired changes elsewhere, but Amnesty International and the United Nations criticize the policy for potential breaches of the EU equal-treatment directive.
16 Articles
16 Articles
There were no cheers but cautious smiles when the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that Denmark's controversial ghetto law may be ethnically discriminatory. "This is a discriminatory law. We can only hope that the Danish court also thinks so," says Muhammad Aslam, who has sued the Danish state.
Denmark is trying to break out of problem areas – also with the bulldozer. The European Court of Justice has now decided that a Danish court must examine whether that is right.
Denmark: ECJ ruling that ghetto law is potentially unlawful is important step in protecting basic human rights
Reacting to today’s ruling by the European Court of Justice that the Danish law on parallel societies (known as the “ghetto law”) is incompatible with the EU’s directive on equal treatment, Dina Hashem, Senior Legal Advisor at Amnesty International Denmark, said: “Today’s ruling is an important step in protecting human rights and respecting the equality of all people. The European Court of Justice found that the ghetto law could potentially lea…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
