The Iraqis in the church….

For quite some time now there has been a war going on and the main battlegrounds have been the major media outlets. During spring 2009 some dozens ex-Iraqis were expelled from Denmark based upon review of their application to seek asylum. When the ruling was confirmed they took refuge in a Copenhagen church and stayed there until this summer, when the police entered the church and lead the Iraqis to the airport some days later. From the get going there have been an intense yet sober battle for the hearts and minds of Danes but now there have been a shift in the public mood.

First off; this is a really divisive matter for the public and there is a great many aspects to be taken into consideration; for some of the expelled Iraqis their trail have lasted 4-5-6+ years, since they first applied asylum. Saddam Hussein regime of terror have been overthrown and the country is fluctuating between a weak state and a country on the edge of civil war, so the conditions may have altered dramatically since they arrived originally.

I’m pro helping people in dire need of asylum, and I’m against the ‘local’ Populist Party with NASPD tendency (Dansk Folkeparti) policy & rhetoric – on the other hand I have a understanding of the concept of rule of law: you get to test your case with lawyers, judges etc. and if you are unsatisfied with the outcome of the ruling you have one or maybe more grounds of appeal. When a court has confirmed a ruling i.e. the Supreme Court confirms a ruling by the High court then its final and the relevant authorities (Police etc.) have to ensure that the text of the ruling is fulfilled.

Why the change in the mood? Without going into a complicated left-right debate I believe that it’s safe to say that in this matter it’s the far left (Enhedslisten) and some left centrist (Radikale Venstre) whom are leading the crusade for undoing the verdict. But now it’s taken a new turn. Today – Sunday 13/9 – there is a fairly large interview in Politiken, where a range of known and unknown Danes admits that they are trying to raise money to help keep some of the not yet gone expelled Iraqis hidden in Denmark, even though that they have been expelled…..now is the time to remember the sound from last year Christmas party when Charles from marketing forgot to lift the pickup before changing the LP.

If you openly confess to an interviewer supposed to appear in a major news outlet, that you are about to break the law and do it in consultation with others you are properly committing a conspiracy.

A judicial professor at Copenhagen University assess that an organization whom are collecting money to support illegal aliens not only commits a crime, but also the people donating to the organization will be committing a crime.

So what is the deal? I’m deeply troubled with the fact that a significant portion of the inhabitants of this equilibrium country seems to think that it’s ok to break the law and even more concerning to thwart the authorities in their struggle to uphold the current legislation….instead of suggesting some real changes to the way we look upon emigrants. And even more I’m outraged that the once in favor of enforcing the law and the specific ruling are considered to be evil, mean xenophobes.

/C

PS. That being said I’m in favor of reexamine the immigration legislation to make Denmark much more attractive to foreigners, but more of that at a later time.

IFA

Back to work – and off again. This weekend I’ll be joining a delegation of Danish reporters from the major news outlets (Berlingske, Politiken, Børsen etc.) when the Danish trade association for consumer electronics will visit IFA in Berlin (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin). Naturally the reason I’ll be present is due to my employment at Garmin where I’m to conduct interviews with the Danish journalists, regarding our newly launched products, portfolio, nüvifone etc. I’ll try to come around the exhibit and capture pictures of anything interesting – and the booth babes. Friday night is probably spent in my hotel room prepping for Saturday.

Stay tuned.

/C