Copenhagen: Denmark’s government is examining the possibility of introducing a nationwide ban on the public broadcasting of the Islamic call to prayer (Azaan), while conducting a legal review to determine whether such a move would comply with constitutional protections on religious freedom.
Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov said the government would assess whether a ban could be implemented without violating the constitutional right to practise religion. He argued that public broadcasts of the Azaan were inappropriate in Denmark and said they did not fit within the country’s social environment, Siasat Daily reported.
Bodskov also claimed that what he described as increasing “Islamisation” was occupying too much space in Danish society.
The proposal represents the third effort by a Danish immigration minister to establish legal restrictions on public Azaan broadcasts, following similar attempts in 2020 and 2025.
Denmark’s constitution guarantees the right to publicly practise religion, meaning any nationwide prohibition would need to withstand constitutional scrutiny. The country already has laws targeting anti-democratic preaching and support for organisations that have been banned.
Only a limited number of mosques in Denmark are believed to broadcast the Azaan through outdoor loudspeakers. In Copenhagen and several other municipalities, local noise regulations already restrict such broadcasts.
The Grand Mosque of Copenhagen does not conduct outdoor Azaan broadcasts under an agreement reached with local authorities.
The proposed ban comes as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s government continues to implement some of Europe’s stricter immigration policies. Earlier this year, Denmark introduced legislation prohibiting full-face Islamic veils, including the burqa and niqab, in public areas. Authorities have also instructed educational institutions to remove designated prayer rooms.
Supporters of the proposal argue that a nationwide rule would establish consistent regulations across the country. Critics, however, say it unfairly singles out Islam and could face legal challenges.
Denmark has a Muslim population of around 270,000 people within a total population of approximately six million, with about 100 mosques across the country.