Danish lawmaker distances herself from racist articles

A Danish lawmaker yesterday distanced herself from anti-Muslim articles that drew outrage in the country after being posted on her website, saying they had been placed there by a party colleague without her knowledge.

Louise Frevert, a member of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, said in a statement she had not seen the articles, which claimed some young Muslims believed it was their right to rape and assault native Danes, until a Danish newspaper published parts of them this week.

The statement said party member Ebbe Talleruphuus, who functioned as Frevert's Web site administrator, had written the articles as letters to the editor, but published them on the site without permission when they were rejected by newspapers.

"I am sorry that it has publicly appeared like it is Louise Frevert who has written the letters," Talleruphuus said in the Danish People's Party statement.

The articles were removed from the site yesterday after a public outcry about their content.

One article claimed "misguided" Muslim youth felt they had the right "to rape Danish girls and knock down Danish citizens".

Another said Denmark should send young Muslim criminals to prisons in Russia to save money.

Frevert, who plans to run for the job as Copenhagen's top mayor in November, said she disagreed with the statements and she would keep a firmer control over her Web site in the future.

"I fully understand that many were surprised I would express myself in such a manner, which I would never dream of," Frevert said.

But in an interview with Danish newspaper Politiken yesterday, Frevert claimed "I have the right to write that".

The party statement sent out yesterday said Frevert had not read the articles when she spoke to Politiken, but did not want to shun responsibility for the content on her own website.

Party officials have not decided yet if Talleruphuus will be allowed to remain in the party.