NEW CITIZENSHIP ACT CONTAINS EXTREMELY PREJUDICIAL "OATH OF LOYALITY" CONDITION WHICH UNDERMINES HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY UNDER LAW

The already discriminatory and deeply offensive Aliens Act comes into effect today with retroactive force - applicants for Danish citizenship have been receiving declarations of loyality from as early as last week, long before the Act came into effect. The condition of "Oath of loyality" is a result of a political deal between government and the far right People's Party.

The Minority Party has been receiving numerous phone calls from deeply distressed people who have applied for Danish citizenship a long time ago but have been asked to apply once again, with a signed "declaration of loyality to the Danish State". In order to attain Danish citizenship, this so-called declaration of loyality must be signed.This is on top of other conditions like :a written declaration on past criminal acts, economic status, and the unreasonably stringent demands of a high level of proficiency in the Danish language. This will only serve to further isolate and marginalise foreigners in a country where discrimination against these groups is already rife.

The oath of loyality declaration states:

"I swear allegiance and loyality to Denmark and Danish society and affirm that I will abide by Danish legislation and respect basic legal principles." (A copy of the original can be acquired by contacting The Minority Party).

The Minority Party's foreman, Rune Engelbreth Larsen comments: "The wording and composition of the 'Declaration of allegiance and loyality' is not only an expression of the government's and the Danish People's Party's unacceptable intent to cast suspicion upon foreigners, but also reflects a latent totalitarianism. The declaration demands respect for basic principles of law, yet one of the cornerstones of these principles happens to be equality before the law, which the declaration itself undermines by applying it exclusively to foreigners."

The Minority Party's spokesperson on Ethnic Equality, Bashy Quraishy comments:"The Aliens Act in general and the 'loyality oath' in particular are deeply discriminatory and in breech of basic human rights and fundamental principles of law. It must be demanded of the Danish government that they provide a clarification of the act's intent, as well as the legal implications of its wording in future."

The Minority Party would like answers to the following questions: What exactly is meant by "allegiance" and "loyality" to Denmark? Is one disloyal to Denmark if for example, one campaigns for the separation of church and state or works towards a fundamental transformation of society? What guarantee is there against individuals being stripped of their citizenship with retroactive force on political or religious grounds? And finally, why is it that foreigners are the only ones required to sign this declaration?

The Minority Party intends to inform the international press as well as human rights organisations the world over and strongly encourage severe international condemnation of this discriminatory demand by the Danish government. If this make us disloyal to Denmark, thereby putting us at risk of being stripped of our citizenship, so be it.