After causing a split in the opposition: Announcement of the number of Syrian and Afghan refugees from Ukraine to Denmark

While a large majority in the Danish parliament approved the so-called Ukrainian Special Act in March 2022 in the aftermath of the Ukraine war, the Conservatives chose to stay out of the agreement. This was due to their fear that the agreement would open the door for refugees from the Middle East living in Ukraine to come to Denmark on a large scale because of the war. From their point of view, this would mean that Denmark would once again open the door to refugees who have historically caused major problems with regard to parallel societies (ghettos), crime, and unemployment, according to an article published by the newspaper BT on Sunday.

Figures from the Danish Immigration Service, which BT received in a response from the service, show that the number of applications submitted by people from the so-called MENAPT countries, which cover refugee groups from the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, is a modest 13.

The 13 individuals are from Syria, Afghanistan and Iran and came to Denmark with Ukrainian refugees and therefore applied for residency in Denmark under the Ukrainian Refugee Act.

Morten Dahlen, the foreign affairs spokesman for the Liberal Party, the largest opposition party in Denmark, commented on the figures, saying, “They are low and do not surprise me. I am also convinced that when the assessment of applications is completed, it is also likely that most of them will be rejected in the asylum system.”.

Fears that refugees from the Middle East would be included in the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Denmark have led to a split within the opposition bloc in the Danish parliament. Following the agreement, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Markus Knuth tweeted, “Of course we want to help all Ukrainians. But we say no to inviting 2,300 Afghans, Syrians, etc. with asylum in Ukraine, in addition to up to 10,000 more from the Middle East.” He attached a statement to his tweet explaining that thousands of refugees living in Ukraine come from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, among other countries. However, figures released by the Danish Immigration Service (only 13 applications from people of Middle Eastern, North African, and Pakistani origin) contradicted Knuth’s tweet. BT attempted to contact Knuth, but he declined, according to the source.

It is worth noting that Denmark has so far taken in nearly 25,000 Ukrainian refugees, and according to UNHCR figures, more than five million Ukrainians have fled their country following the Russian invasion.