Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that too many people with Muslim backgrounds appear in crime statistics and that she wishes some of those causing harm to Danish society were no longer living in the country.
The remarks came on Thursday, 8 October, during the Danish Parliament’s annual opening debate, in an exchange with Lars Boje Mathiesen, leader of the Citizens’ Party (Borgernes Parti), over immigration, integration and citizenship.
Mette Frederiksen calls for nuance in the debate
Responding to Mathiesen, Frederiksen stressed that the debate about immigration and Danish citizenship should distinguish between people who contribute positively to society and those whose behaviour causes problems.
She pointed out that thousands of people with foreign backgrounds are valued members of Danish society and said their contributions should not be overlooked.
However, the Social Democratic prime minister also delivered a much tougher message about certain sections of Denmark’s Muslim population.
“Are there too many Muslims in Denmark? There are certainly too many people with Muslim backgrounds who do not know how to behave properly.”
Frederiksen continued:
“There are too many people with Muslim backgrounds who feature in the wrong statistics, particularly when it comes to crime.”
She added that she wished some of these individuals were not living in Denmark because, in her view, the harm they cause to society is too great.
The statements, reported by Danish broadcaster TV 2, came during a broader debate in which Mathiesen advocated restrictions on Islam’s role in Denmark, including proposals targeting religious clothing and practices.
What Danish crime statistics actually measure
Frederiksen’s comments referred to crime statistics without identifying a specific dataset or providing figures during the reported exchange.
According to Statistics Denmark, official figures on criminal convictions distinguish between people of Danish origin, immigrants and their descendants, with additional categories based on geographic origin.
These classifications do not directly measure religious affiliation. Consequently, statistics concerning people from particular countries or regions cannot automatically be treated as statistics concerning Muslims as a religious group.
The distinction is important when assessing political claims about immigration, integration and criminal behaviour.
Denmark’s tightening immigration and citizenship policies
Frederiksen linked her position to the government’s efforts to strengthen criminal penalties and deportation rules.
In February 2026, Denmark approved a criminal justice reform introducing tougher sentences for serious offences, including aggravated violence and rape.
A separate deportation reform, adopted in September, tightened the rules so that foreign nationals sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious crimes should, as a general rule, face expulsion.
The latest debate also followed a government announcement on 5 October proposing a new system to screen citizenship applicants for anti-democratic views and attitudes incompatible with fundamental rights and freedoms.
The proposed screening system remains under examination, with an expert group expected to report around the end of 2026. The government also intends to reintroduce a previously withdrawn citizenship bill following a renewed review of applicants.
Frederiksen’s intervention therefore comes as Denmark continues to tighten its approach to immigration and integration, with criminal justice, citizenship and deportation policies occupying a prominent place in the national political debate.
