Denmark’s investigation ends, tabloid is criticised, but campaign against Jehovah’s Witnesses persists

The Danish Press Council criticized “Ekstra Bladet” for publishing false information against Jehovah’s Witnesses and not correcting it. A Danish investigation affirmed that Jehovah’s Witnesses adhere to local laws, finding after a thorough review no evidence of wrongdoing related to allegations of mishandling domestic violence and child abuse cases. The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs found no legal violations and recognized the importance of protecting religious freedoms. However, the campaign against them continues, driven by media sensationalism and political opportunism as well as some politicians, including Minister Morten Dahlin, expressing bias against Jehovah’s Witnesses, raising concerns about discrimination and the potential threat to the rights of religious minorities in Denmark. In a democratic society, religious freedom must be safeguarded against prejudice masquerading as policy.