Denmark: Boycotting Somalis

Denmark: Boycotting Somalis

I recently posted a story about Taxi drivers in Odense who, due to fear of a Somali gang, avoid going into an immigrant neighborhood. A similar story in Kolding was in the news last December, except in this case the taxi drivers refused to take any Somali. I did not find any updates since.

----------

JydskeVestkysten newspaper writes that taxi drivers in Kolding (Denmark) think it's too dangerous to drive with Somalis, and so hare now boycotting all rides with Somalis.

They know that they're not allowed to discriminate by ethnic origin, and the drivers risk therefore a criminal case and a fine of 500-1000 kroner. They can also be sued for compensation. Similar cases were awarded compensation of up to 50,000 kroner.

The head of the city's biggest taxi company, Krone Taxi, supports his driver's decision.

Hans Jørgen Aarøe told JydskeVestkysten that there's barely any driver who dares drive with Somalis anymore. The Somalis have given them many problems, they kick their cars if they think they're in the way, they spit, threaten the driver, and skip paying. So he's full of understanding for the drivers.

The drivers of the city's other taxi company, Kolding Taxa, also lost any wish to pick up Somalis.

Nightclubs in the city also reject Somalis. They're aware it's illegal to generalize and ban the Somalis entrance only based on their nationality, but even so, there's zero tolerance towards the ethnic group of Somalis.

Peter Jørgensen, owner of the New York nightclub in Kolding told jv.dk that they don't want Somalis. They make a lot of ruckus. They steal bags, hit the doorman, and bring knives with them.

They're not the only ones banned from New York, but they're the only ones who don't understand that they should keep away, says Peter Jørgensen.

He tells of a fight between a Somali who was banned from the club, and an ethnic Dane. The Somali pulled out a knife and went for the head and neck of the Dane. The Dane was a bodybuilder type and was not injured.

New York's workers are also afraid. Peter Jørgensen says that several time his employees were attacked by Somalis. He has people who don't dare go out on the streets at night, because there's somebody after them. None of his employees consented to be interviewed, since they were afraid of being beaten up.

Peter Jørgensen says the police know which Somalis are the ones causing the trouble. He says they had run the police in the past when they had trouble, but the police didn't come when they heard it was Somalis.

Several Somalis have been given a police restriction order from the Lanternen club.

Benno Rasmussen, owner of Lanternen, says that it's probably the group that causes the most trouble. He says it gives a bad feeling in the club when a group of Somalis comes in.

The following is from Danish TV, with English subtitles:





Kolding's mayor, Per Bødker Andersen (S), says it's a task for the police. "We will pressure the Somalis and tell them we are here." He says it's sad that a few members of a group give the rest a bad name.

The report in the news brought about a hurried meeting with the municipality's social workers, local police and representatives from the Somali Association.

The SF chairman of the integration committee, Marwan Zobi, called the meeting and he was happy that there was a wish to do something about the problem.

The taxi companies refused to come. Hans Jørgen Aarøe of Krone Taxi says that it's not their job to make the youth act properly. They just want their drivers to be able to do their job without risking life and limb.

A group of Somali women say that they're afraid the city would come and take away their children if they do something wrong, of if there's any problem with their children.

The youth use this fear.

Samira Adle, a municipal social worker, says that some children tell their parents that if they say anything to the children, for example, deny them anything, then the children will call the police. And some parents don't dare say anything and so the children quickly take control. The children can come home, for example, whenever they want.

She says it's therefore very difficult for the parent to control their children, ensure they go to school and stay out of crime.

The parent's defense mechanism - shutting their eyes - is not restricted only to Somalis. But in many cases it's enforced for an immigrant group, who are very skeptic of the state.

Consultant Kim Hansen says that some of the Somalis are first generation immigrants and they come from a culture where one doesn't want that the state or the authorities will intervene. He says he's heard that they're being exploited by the children, who know the Danish system better than their parents.

Sources: 180 Grader 1, 2; jv.dk 1, 2, 3, 4 (Danish) h/t Mitt Sverige

See also: Odense: Taxi drivers afraid of Somali gang

No comments: