Muslims as a Danish security issue

Little has been published in English about Islam in Denmark although interest grew after the cartoons crisis of 2005-6. Danish research on the subject is extensive, and a recently published volume Islam in Denmark - the Challenge of Diversity presents some of the most recent to an international audience.

Manni Crone and Mona Kanwal Sheikh have co-authored a chapter that illuminates differences and continuity in the ways that Islam, Muslims, and Islamism have been framed as security issues by Danish media, politicians, and other influential opinion makers. The chapter consists of three main parts, covering what is in Denmark known as “the value-debates,” debates about Muslims in politics and terrorism debates. Under the overall category of terrorism debates the authors compare the “Egyptian case” of 1993 (the first trial about “Islamist terror” in Denmark) and some of the post-9/11 terrorism trials in Denmark. The focus on these clusters of cases is chosen due to their significance as large securitizing moments in Danish debates concerning Islam, Muslims and Islamism. In conclusion, the authors highlight the political effects of the securitization moves; e.g. political, legal, institutional and “special funded” initiatives.

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