Residents from Danish housing area hope for win in landmark EU discrimination case

"The law means that all social housing estates where more than half of residents are "non-Western" -- previously defined as "ghettos" by the government and now termed "parallel societies" -- must rebuild, renovate and change the social mix by renting at least 60 percent of the homes at market rates by 2030. Danish authorities, which have for decades advocated a hard line on immigration, say the law is aimed at eradicating segregation and "parallel societies" in poor neighbourhoods that often struggle with crime."

"To qualify as parallel societies', housing areas must have a population of more than 1,000 people, of which more than half are of non-Western origin, and must fulfil two of four other criteria relating to employment, education, income and crime rates. For areas with fewer than 50 percent 'non-Western' populations, the term 'vulnerable area' is used instead. In the Mjlnerparken housing estate in central Copenhagen, long associated with petty crime and delinquency, residents are confident they'll win the case they've brought before the European court."

"She said the law was solely about "discrimination and racism". Muhammad Aslam, head of the social housing complex's tenants' association, was more measured, saying he was "full of hope". Long legal battle Mjlnerparken residents filed their lawsuit in 2020. A preliminary opinion by the European Court of Justice's advocate general in February called the policy "direct discrimination". If the court's final ruling were to be along those lines, "we will be ... completely satisfied", Aslam said."

Denmark requires social housing estates with more than half non-Western residents to rebuild, renovate and reconfigure the social mix by renting at least 60 percent of homes at market rates by 2030. Areas qualify as "parallel societies" if they have over 1,000 people, a majority of non-Western origin, and meet two of four criteria on employment, education, income and crime; smaller zones with under 50 percent non-Western residents are labelled "vulnerable areas." Authorities present the measure as targeting segregation and crime. Mjlnerparken residents filed a 2020 lawsuit claiming ethnic discrimination; an ECJ advocate general issued a preliminary opinion calling the policy "direct discrimination."

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