Danish politician seeks removal of Isam B song over niqab comments

Thomas Skriver Jensen, the integration and immigration spokesperson for Denmark's Social Democrats, has called for the removal of the song "Ramadan i København" by artist Isam B from the High School Songbook. This demand follows Isam B's recent comments in an interview suggesting that wearing a niqab can be a feminist act.

The politician stated that Isam B's remarks align poorly with the principles of freedom and open-mindedness that the high schools are founded upon. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also expressed strong disapproval, particularly of Isam B's comparison of the niqab to a ninja, calling it "an insult to those who fight an unfair battle every day."

Isam B responded on Instagram, acknowledging the legitimacy of the Prime Minister's disagreement but refuting any intention to mock women in niqabs. He clarified that his point was about the general tendency to speak condescendingly about women who choose to wear the niqab. He asserted that a woman's right to control her body and appearance should extend to choices that others may not approve of.

Reiterating his stance to Ekstra Bladet, Isam B argued that the High School Songbook should not be limited to artists whose views are approved by the Social Democrats. He characterized such a selection process as a "political sorting list," implying that the songbook risks becoming a tool for political conformity rather than a collection of diverse artistic expressions.