A new study aimed at uncovering the extent of negative social control exercised by public officials is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. This was announced by the Minister for Immigration and Integration, Kaare Dybvad Bek (Social Democrats), following a period of intense debate on the subject. The study, conducted by the National Centre against Honour-Related Conflicts (Mærk), will focus on how public officials may be involved in honour-related conflicts and exert negative social control over citizens. The initiative comes in the wake of statements from the Social Democratic Party’s spokesperson on immigration, Frederik Vad, who highlighted that even seemingly well-integrated immigrants may work against Danish values.
“I hear about these issues when I speak to people who work daily with these challenges, such as social workers and employees at women’s crisis centres. There is a clear need for more documentation,” says Kaare Dybvad Bek. This Danish study will draw inspiration from a similar Swedish study that has already been conducted. The goal is to gain a clearer picture of the extent and nature of the problem, so that targeted solutions can be developed. The debate gained momentum earlier this year when Frederik Vad spoke about a new understanding in immigration policy, emphasizing that integration is not only about jobs and education, but also about supporting and protecting Danish societal values.
Reactions to Vad’s statements have been mixed, with some criticizing him for casting suspicion on all immigrants. However, he has denied this. The discussion has also led to internal tensions within the Social Democratic Party, where several members have expressed dissatisfaction with Vad’s rhetoric. Despite the criticism, a dialogue has now been initiated within the party, and Musa Kekec, a municipal council member, has chosen to pause his considerations of leaving the party after planned meetings with Frederik Vad.
The results of the study are eagerly awaited and could potentially lead to new initiatives or policies aimed at combating negative social control within the public sector.