Aarhus Municipality and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been acquitted in a lawsuit filed by a young woman who sought compensation following a re-education trip to Somalia, according to the Court in Aarhus. The court ruled that neither the municipality nor the ministry was liable for the alleged damages.

The plaintiff, Amal, now 24, argued that Aarhus Municipality did not take sufficient preventative measures before and during her trip. She also contended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to act appropriately when suspicions arose that she had been sent on a re-education trip and did not provide adequate assistance to ensure her safety between November 11, 2019, and January 19, 2020.

This case marks the first time a Danish authority has faced legal scrutiny in connection with a re-education trip. Both Aarhus Municipality and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously denied Amal’s claim for compensation.

During the trial, which commenced in May with three judges presiding, Amal described her experiences in the camp, including daily Koran readings and punishments involving beatings and whippings. She testified that the young women were kept in chains, with the length of the chains adjusted based on their behavior. Amal stated that her parents sent her to Somalia because she had distanced herself from Islam.

A municipal case worker testified that Amal’s mother had mentioned sending her then 16-year-old daughter to Somalia approximately six months before the trip occurred.

While civil lawsuits are typically heard by a single judge, this case was deemed to be of significant principle and complexity, warranting a panel of three judges.

Amal is also responsible for covering legal costs, amounting to DKK 125,000 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DKK 125,000 to Aarhus Municipality.