Denmark's top court to rule on 'non-western' evictions

Supreme court to hear eviction appeal

Denmark's top court will rule whether the state's classification of residents with non-western backgrounds violates racial discrimination law after residents of Nøjsomhed-Sydvej in Helsingør were evicted.

The parallel societies law explained

The legislation, previously called the ghetto law, requires housing associations to cut not-for-profit housing by forty percent by twenty thirty, including by selling, demolishing or terminating leases in areas where at least half of residents…

Residents claim targeted discrimination

The evicted residents argue that housing associations deliberately removed people with non-western backgrounds to prevent the area becoming subject to the legislation, making the policy ethnically discriminatory.

EU court found law may be unlawful

In December, the European Court of Justice ruled that the legislation may be unlawful. The law applies only to areas with non-western residents, not to areas with similar socioeconomic problems like unemployment or crime.

International bodies criticise the policy

Amnesty International, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, and the UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination have all criticised the law for its discriminatory impact on ethnic minorities.

Ruling could reshape Danish law

If the court decides non-western background is linked to ethnic origin, it could force Denmark to abolish the categorisation entirely, with ramifications across society.

“If the supreme court decides that non-western background is linked to ethnic origin and racial discrimination law, that raises huge questions for the Danish state.”