Imams can pass a democracy course in Danish without understanding a word of it.

To be allowed to perform weddings in Denmark outside the Danish National Church, one must complete a so-called democracy course, where participants learn about Danish society and Danish values.

But it is possible to complete the course without understanding Danish, even though the instruction is offered in Danish, among other languages.

This is reported by Kristeligt Dagblad (https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/i-otte-aar-har-imamer-kunnet-bestaa-demokratikursus-uden-forstaa-et-ord-af-indholdet).

Jakob Ulriksen, a priest in the free congregation Skjern Bykirke, attended the course in Danish in June. In his course group there were six newly arrived Turkish imams who, according to Jakob Ulriksen, apparently did not understand the Danish instruction.

"It was a peculiar experience of a lesson where half the class simply doesn't understand what the teacher is asking," he says to DR News.

The priest reports that the course participants with language difficulties did not actively participate in the instruction and therefore were not part of the debates that took place between participants and the instructor.

"It creates an absurd situation, so I sat there thinking it was like being in a play," he says.

Jakob Ulriksen emphasizes that he thinks it is good that there are requirements tied to the responsibility a priest or imam receives – such as completing a democracy course. But according to the priest, the execution of the course deserves a failing grade.

If you wish to marry people outside the Danish National Church, it is mandatory by law to complete a democracy course. (Photo: © Sebastian Elias Uth, Ritzau Scanpix)

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’It becomes symbolic politics’

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For the past eight years, it has been mandatory by law to complete a course in family law, democracy, and freedom in order to obtain authorization to perform weddings in one’s religious community. During the course, participants are taught in Danish about Danish values, freedom of speech, and the right to divorce. The course is also offered in English.

The requirement to complete a democracy course came into effect in 2018 with the so-called Religious Communities Act, which was primarily intended to target Islamic divorce contracts. It is also possible to take a written test instead of the two course days of the democracy course, where passing is based on attendance.

When Jakob Ulriksen tried to talk during breaks and lunch with the course participants who had difficulty following the Danish instruction, it was, according to the Danish priest, “an uphill battle.”

“They barely had enough English vocabulary to carry on a conversation,” he says.

He does not understand how one can complete the course without taking some form of final exam.

“In the Danish school system, we are not shy about testing or taking exams. Of course, one should be held accountable for whether they have learned what the instructor taught.”

“The fact that after two days of coursework you can simply receive a course certificate by mail, regardless of whether you understood anything at all or everything, I find strange,” says Jakob Ulriksen.

What is your opinion on people receiving state papers certifying they have completed a democracy course, regardless of whether they understood a word of the instruction or not?

“I think it becomes symbolic politics that you can get that certificate regardless of whether you understood what the instruction was about. I think it is unfortunate that you are not held accountable with a test at the end of the course,” says the Danish priest.

Ida Auken is the Minister for Health and Church Affairs for the Social Democrats. She has previously been a member of the Folketing for the Danish Social Liberal Party and the Socialist People’s Party. (Photo: © Emil Nicolai Helms, Ritzau Scanpix)

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Minister has requested an investigation

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The minister responsible for the area, Ida Auken, who is the Minister for Church Affairs for the Social Democrats, is appalled by the matter.

“It sounds completely wrong that people can sit in such a course and not understand a single word of what is going on,” she says.

The minister explains that the requirement to complete a democracy course was introduced because, according to Ida Auken, “among other things, there have been imams in Denmark who have kept women bound in illegal contracts, who have not understood that men and women are of equal worth in Denmark.”

Therefore, the Minister for Church Affairs has asked her staff in the ministry to investigate what is happening on the courses.

“It is very important that we tighten up on this, because if it is happening like this, it simply won’t do,” she says.

What about introducing an exam when the course is finished?

“I am open to all possibilities for tightening up on this, because no one in this country should be granted the authority to perform weddings without understanding what is legal and illegal in Denmark,” says the minister.

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University College Copenhagen cannot ’recognize’ the course

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University College Copenhagen, which offers the course, cannot “recognize” Jakob Ulriksen’s description of the specific democracy course in June that the priest from Skjern Bykirke attended.

“The specific group brought along an interpreter who has attended the course several times and is familiar with the material and the slides used. It is our understanding that the interpretation here took place in writing via translated slides and supplementary explanations in a chat set up for that purpose,” writes the university college in a written response to DR News.

The university college further explains that the courses are offered in both Danish and English, and that participants have the option to bring an interpreter. However, it is the participants’ own responsibility to arrange an interpreter.

It is possible to pass the course simply by being present, according to the university college.

Warning: This article was translated by a Large Language Model, in case of doubt, you can always visit the original source.