Danish researchers in fields related to Islam are increasingly experiencing harassment and death threats, which hinder public debate, according to the Danish Association of Masters and PhDs (Dansk Magisterforening). A prominent figure in this discussion is Thomas Hoffmann, PhD and Professor of Islamic Theology at the University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), who has shared his experiences with threats in an article for Weekendavisen, a Danish newspaper. Hoffmann has been targeted by a Danish website accusing him of Islamophobia due to his critical research on religion. He calls these accusations unfounded and believes they have become a tool to silence researchers.

Brian Arly Jacobsen, chairperson for DM University, confirms that this is not an isolated situation. Many researchers have shared similar experiences over the past 10 to 15 years. According to Jacobsen, such threats can prevent valuable scholarly voices from contributing to a more nuanced public debate. While Thomas Hoffmann continues to express his views despite the threats, others choose to remain silent out of fear of repercussions.

Jacobsen, who is also an associate professor of religious sociology at the University of Copenhagen, notes that this phenomenon is not unique to Denmark. Researchers around the world face similar challenges when they speak out on controversial topics such as migration, religion, and gender. During the COVID-19 crisis, it was issues surrounding vaccines that led to threats against researchers.

Jacobsen reveals that he himself has received death threats from time to time, typically through emails accusing him of treason and placing him on death lists. He emphasizes that it is not only researchers who are targeted; politicians and journalists are often in the crosshairs as well when they engage in heated societal debates.