Denmark moves to ban clerics with anti-democratic views

COPENHAGEN – Denmark’s government says it has secured support from lawmakers for its plan to ban foreign clerics with anti-democratic views from entering the Nordic country.

Danish minister for church affairs Bertel Haarder said Tuesday a majority in the Parliament backs creating a list of so-called “hate preachers” from outside the European Union who would be denied entry into Denmark. That paves the way for the government to submit a bill to Parliament for formal approval. No date was immediately set for a vote.

Some other European countries have similar legislation. Britain, for instance, can deny entry to people with criminal convictions or those whose presence is considered not “conducive to the public good.”