Copenhagen, Denmark – Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek is refuting claims that the Danish government has pursued a lenient immigration policy, despite recent figures showing a significant increase in immigration from Muslim countries under Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s leadership.

The figures, highlighted by several media outlets, have drawn criticism towards the government and the Social Democrats. Dybvad Bek argues that focusing solely on immigration numbers provides an incomplete picture and masks the broader reality.

According to Dybvad Bek, the crucial metric is the number of immigrants residing in Denmark, which has not increased as dramatically as the raw immigration figures suggest. He points out that while immigration from MENAPT (Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey) countries rose from 4,527 in 2019 to 8,346 in 2024, these figures do not account for emigration or individuals who may have immigrated and emigrated multiple times.

The minister emphasizes that the majority of recent immigrants from MENAPT countries are workers and students, who typically do not receive permanent residence permits. He further states that the increase in immigrants from Muslim countries residing in Denmark was significantly lower under the current government (9.5% increase from 2019 to present) compared to the previous government (20% increase from 2015 to 2019). For immigrants from MENAPT countries, the increase under the current government was 7%, compared to 22.5% from 2015 to 2019.

Dybvad Bek addressed concerns raised by the Danish People’s Party (DF), who accused the government of an “immigration policy failure.” He clarified that work and study permits do not guarantee permanent residency. He acknowledged the need for potential adjustments to certain programs, citing the tightening of regulations for a nurse training program due to an influx of Iranian participants.

Responding to DF’s criticism that the government is admitting more people from MENAPT countries, which the Social Democrats have identified as sources of cultural challenges, Dybvad Bek affirmed that the government has taken steps to address these concerns, including halting certain study programs.

Mikkel Bjørn, DF’s immigration spokesman, remains critical, arguing that the increase in Muslim immigration is an “indisputable fact” that contributes to cultural segregation and value conflicts. He also criticized the inclusion of children of non-Western immigrants in integration statistics solely based on Danish citizenship. He accuses the Social Democrats of trying to deflect responsibility onto DF, which he says has consistently warned about these issues.