A new study reveals a widening gap between immigrants and the rest of Denmark

Copenhagen Post:

After years of advances in integration of immigrants and refugees into Danish society, the development has come to a halt, even regressing in some areas.

A study conducted by analysis institute Catinét for A4, a newsletter for the Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), concluded that the share of employed immigrants surged from 33 to 50 percent between 2000 and 2004.

Since 2004, however, their share has fallen to 43 percent.

The survey also revealed that the share of immigrants who said they felt discriminated against has increased from one out of four to one out of three.

At the same time, the share of immigrants who almost exclusively watch television programs broadcast from their countries of origin has increased from 6 to 12 percent.

Immigration experts said the development could be traced to the fact that immigrants felt ever more unwelcome in Denmark, and that the feeling had firmly taken root in the group.

'They have lost the feeling of being a member of Danish society,' said Uzma Ahmed Andresen, chairman of the Association for Equal Ethnic Rights.

Naser Khader, Social Liberal MP, said Danish residents with immigrant backgrounds felt less and less Danish because they experienced increased hostility from ethnic Danes.

Khader, who is one of Denmark's most prominent politicians with an immigrant background, said foreigners reacted psychologically to the hostile feeling, turning towards their home countries and their original culture.

Khader said terrorist attacks on Western targets, such as the United States in 2001 and London in July, contributed to whipping up hostile sentiments towards immigrants.

Denmark: Immigrants concentrated in schools

Something Rotten in Denmark?

Flynn Effect in Denmark & Norway - R.I.P.?

Denmark's immigration issue