Odense: Threats against Muslim candidate for city council

Odense: Threats against Muslim candidate for city council


"Death to Roya.  You are a thief, filthy and dishonest woman and your husband is a traitor"  said an email sent to Roya Moore, a candidate for the Odense city council.  The mail was written in Farsi, Moore's original language.  Roya Moore came to Denmark from Iran in 1985 and studied to be a nurse.  Today she works as a job consultant for the Etnisk Jobteam in Odense, and earlier this year received the Integration Minister's integration award.

She's appalled by the direct death threast and that such threats could enter the municipal elections.  "They shouldn't be allowed to scare other people from actively participating in the municipal elections."

"I just think that this shouldn't happen. They must understand that when you live in a democratic country, then you have some rights which cannot be violated," Roya Moore told DR Fyn.

Roya Moore does not know what motivated the threats.  "But I feel personally attacked," says Roya Moore.  "I've been told that I'm a traitor and that all my posters will be destroyed because of who I am."

John Wozny, head of the Conservative voters' association in Odense, was also chocked by the email.  He's been involved in local politics for several decades and has never experienced such a harsh threat as those against Roya Moore. He says that people should strongly reject using such methods in an election campaign.  "Those are not methods we know in Denmark and we strongly reject them."

John Wozny says that the email was sent to Denmark to threaten Roya Moore.  It says that Roya Moore stole medicine from the hospital where she was a nurse.  He says he was told this is the way women are oppressed in Iran.  Woman don't get involved in politics and the public debate.

Mayor Jon Boye (Christian Democrats) is chocked and sad that a candidate has gotten death threats.

"I'm upset that Roya was threatened for her life, only because she's a Muslim woman who wants to take part in the city council elections," says the mayor.  Jan Boye says that this isn't about complexion but that everybody in Denmark should be allowed to express themselves.

The police are investigating.

Sources: DR, Kristeligt Dagblad, TV2 Fyn (Danish)

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