A 15-year-old boy, Elias Bukh Barlian, was the victim of a serious stabbing last week at a bus stop on Frederikssundsvej in Copenhagen. The boy was rushed to Rigshospitalet, where doctors fought for his life, but unfortunately without success. The stabbing, which according to the police involved a 14-year-old suspect, has gained significant attention in the public and political circles. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned the murder in her speech at the closing debate of the Folketing (the Danish parliament), emphasizing the need for stricter penalties and a strict immigration policy.
Elias’ mother, Anna Sørine, is not satisfied that her son’s tragic death is being used as a lever for political agendas. She expressed her displeasure that Elias’ fate is being exploited in the debate on immigration and tightening of penalties. Anna Sørine believes that the focus should be on the well-being of young people and the easy access to dangerous weapons, rather than tougher penalties and immigration policy.
Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard has stated that prevention is crucial, but it should be supplemented with tougher penalties. He highlights that there is an overrepresentation of young people with a non-Western background carrying knives, which he sees as a sign of norm deviation. The new legislation expected to be adopted will entail harsher penalties for illegal knife possession, recruiting young people for crime, and double penalties for using knives in gang conflicts. The case of Elias Bukh Barlian has thus opened a broader debate about society’s responsibility to protect young people and create safe environments where they can thrive without fear of violence.