Denmark’s decision to deny citizenship to a Pakistani man, Hafiz Muhammad Idrees, despite him meeting the standard requirements, has sparked debate and legal concerns. Eva Ersbøll, a leading expert in citizenship law, believes this move shakes the foundation of how Denmark grants citizenship and may violate applicable law.

The government initially justified the removal by stating the need for further clarification, citing concerns about Idrees’s allegiance and loyalty to Denmark based on his leadership role in the Islamic organization Minhaj-ul-Quran and his association with books promoting theocratic ideas. However, Ersbøll argues that the declaration of allegiance is merely a ritual and that denying citizenship based on this interpretation is a misunderstanding.

Idrees himself has refuted the accusations against him and criticized the lack of dialogue and due process in the decision. Ersbøll supports this, emphasizing the problematic nature of denying the applicant the opportunity to address the accusations before the decision was made. While the Minister for Immigration and Integration, Kaare Dybvad Bek, says that Idrees will be heard after the fact, Ersbøll believes this is insufficient.

The government acknowledges a “significant procedural risk” regarding potential violations of human rights, and Ersbøll agrees, pointing out the arbitrariness of singling out a single applicant without a systematic review of all applicants. She questions whether creating a process to control applicants for anti-democratic views is even possible within the framework of the constitution and international conventions. Bek has announced the formation of a committee of experts to investigate this possibility, acknowledging the risks involved in this new initiative while emphasizing the importance of a strict immigration policy.