Denmark’s immigration minister has announced plans to examine a nationwide ban on the public Islamic call to prayer, or Azan, while comparing parts of the country to a “suburb of Islamabad.”
Minister for Immigration and Integration Morten Bødskov said the Azan should not be broadcast over Danish rooftops. He argued that it had no place in Denmark’s public environment.
“You shouldn’t be in any doubt whether you’ve ended up in a suburb of Islamabad when you walk around Denmark,” Bødskov reportedly said.
The minister has asked officials to investigate whether Denmark can legally restrict or completely ban the public broadcasting of the Azan. However, the government has not yet introduced a bill, and no ban has taken effect.
The proposal mainly concerns calls to prayer broadcast from mosques through loudspeakers. Muslims would still be able to pray inside mosques and practise their religion.
Previous Minister Also Considered Azan Ban
The latest move continues work started under former immigration minister Rasmus Stoklund.
In October 2025, Stoklund ordered officials to restart an earlier review of the legal options for restricting calls to prayer in public spaces.
He said calls from mosque minarets did not belong in Denmark and described them as intrusive and disruptive.
A similar review had started in 2020. However, officials did not complete it before Denmark’s 2022 parliamentary election.
The issue gained attention in 2020 after Muslims publicly delivered a call to prayer near Gellerup Church in Aarhus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, Islamic organisations also sought permission to broadcast the Azan. However, the authorities said the immigration ministry did not have legislation specifically regulating calls to prayer from mosques.
Proposal Could Face Legal Questions
Any nationwide ban could trigger debate over religious freedom and equal treatment.
Denmark’s constitution protects the right of people to practise their religion, provided their activities do not conflict with public order or morality.
Therefore, the government must determine whether it can restrict the Azan without unfairly targeting Islam or treating mosques differently from churches and other religious institutions.
Supporters of the proposal argue that amplified calls to prayer do not belong in Denmark’s public soundscape. However, critics may view an Islam-specific restriction as discriminatory and inconsistent with religious freedom.
The government has not announced when it will complete its legal review. It also remains unclear whether any future rules would specifically mention the Azan or apply more broadly to amplified religious sounds.
For now, the proposed ban remains under consideration and would require further legal and political action before taking effect.
Via: Telegraph
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