Ekstra Bladet: Unmasking a Racist Agenda

In June 2018 the Danish parliament announced that from august 1st it will be illegal for people to wear Islamic veils in public, in Denmark. A law that is not only discriminating towards the less than 200 women in Denmark who wears Islamic veils. But is also in conflict with the Danish constitution.

For a news media like Ekstra Bladet who has a long history in the country for lashing out at the people in power and expose their hidden agendas, this case was no different. The law is clearly symbolic and does nothing but alienate the Muslim minority in the country.

Only a few days after the announcement, Hjaltelin Stahl, Copenhagen, created a Facebook event, called ‘The longest masquerade in Denmark’. Starting on august 1st and till the law has been reversed. The masquerade works as a tool for people to freely wear whatever they want to wear. The law states that if you’re on your way to a costume party, you’re allowed to wear head garments. A loophole the lawmakers failed to see for themselves, and the loophole we used to expose their agenda. The masquerade did not only function as a tool, but also worked as a debate starter, and it worked well, as the event has had more than 15.000 interactions and counting. The masquerade was featured on live TV, radio and other news media and the debate spread to international media, which has caused a resistance amongst the Danes. 

Everyday there’s stories about people who resist the law, by refusing to press charges or simply by wearing head garments in public. From local business’ to musicians who wears head garments on stage, to artist who creates burqa art and fashion designers who disrupted Copenhagen Fashion Week by making Islamic veils part of their collections. 

The masquerade is not only a topical and real-time marketing stunt, but proof that corporate activism can unite citizens across social stratification and hopefully in the end, get the government to reverse the law.