Danish man jailed for minister's Facebook death threat

A 70-year-old Danish man has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for posting a death threat on Facebook directed at a government minister. The comment, which offered a bounty for harming the minister, was made in response to a post by Tax and Growth Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt of the Moderaterne party concerning a reduction in VAT on gasoline.

The minister subsequently reported the man to the police. The court in Kolding ruled that the comment constituted a threat of violence against Minister Engel-Schmidt. The 70-year-old man accepted the verdict and has 14 days to decide whether to appeal the sentence.

This incident highlights the serious consequences of online threats, even when made by individuals who may not appear to be direct actors in political discourse. The swift legal action underscores the authorities' stance against such menacing statements directed at public officials.