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. @LamiesNassri and I wrote two articles unpacking why the Danish 'ghetto' law is inherently a racist policy targeting specifically non-Western residents. The articles are in Danish, but here's a thread summarising our points. #dkpol 1/
In the first article, we talk about the main factor that will classify a public housing neighbourhood as a ghetto: non-Western residents. This category includes any immigrant or descendant from non-Western countries. 2/ https://www.responsmedie.dk/racisme-2/
The Danish government has declared that 'non-Western immigrants and descendants' create 'parallel societies' and 'ghettos' by merely living in an area, thereby causing a threat to Danish social cohesion. 2/
This line of argument legitimises the intrusive 'ghetto' laws that destroy renter's democracy (uniquely Danish) and the public housing sector. The laws increase surveillance, state regulation and will forcefully evict an est. 11000 families in the next 2 years. 3/
Because residents are spoken of as 'non-Western', they are constructed as not really Danish, and thus outside the folds of Danish civil rights. With this racialised excuse, the government is destroying the public housing sector to introduce privatisation and gentrification. 4/
The 2nd article unpacks each section of the ghetto policy to highlight how, despite its colourblind veneer, each category to classify a 'ghetto' is framed to specifically target areas with non-Western residents https://www.responsmedie.dk/racisme-3/ 5/
Unemployment: the number of unemployed in an area can put it on the 'ghetto' list. However, not just unemployed are counted but also disabled residents - meaning ppl who have been found to not be able to work because of underlying health reasons. 6/
Disability retirement is higher among non-Western residents for a number of legitimate reasons. Including that they usually work in physically streneous jobs that tear them down. Yet, there's an unspoken (racist) suspicion that they've cheated to get early retirement. 7/
Education: the number of uneducated residents can get an area on the list. Here's the catch: any degree taken outside of DK is not taken to account. So you could be an engineer or Dr but your degree won't be recognised in the statistics until it is accredited in DK 8/
Poverty: the ave. income level of an area can get it on the list. Some of the poorest areas of Copenhagen will be compared with other parts of Copenhagen (the richest areas), instead of being compared with other areas on average. 9/
This allows the gov to target highly desirably real estate close to the city centers where many non-Western residents live. By evicting these residents, they pave the way for privatisation and 'gentrification' - replacing brown poor residents for white rich residents. 10/
Crime: this is often presented as a crucial element in the policy. Ghetto areas can become securitised 'zones' where any crime comitted in the area is automatically given a double sentencing. 11/
Even though crime has been falling in these areas, the political rhetoric has been to uphold the moral panic of 'crime infested' neighbourhoods by changing the criterias. This has meant increased police surveillance and a specific targeting of 'non-Western' young men. 12/
The Danish 'ghetto' law is a prime example of structural racism. The ghetto criterias have been implemented to forcibly relocate, monitor and control residents - especially those with a 'non-Western' background. END/
Til alle danskere der læser med: Skriv under på borgerforslaget og red Danmarks almene boliger! https://www.borgerforslag.dk/se-og-stoet-forslag/?Id=FT-04982&fbclid=IwAR2H5FYyGLfI78V86fAn1RIh8c4pRuSJZ8SS7wLv1N4LpnV7jNdW9LoIJ2Y
