Isam B song will remain in Danish songbook

There are no plans to remove Isam B’s song “Ramadan i København” (“Ramadan in Copenhagen”) from Højskolesangbogen, the Danish Folk High School Songbook.

This was stated in a written announcement from the committee behind the 19th edition of Højskolesangbogen and the Association of Danish Folk High Schools, which publishes the songbook.

Thomas Skriver Jensen, the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on integration and immigration, had called for the song to be removed because he believes Isam B holds a “medieval view of humanity” that is incompatible with the values of the Danish folk high school movement.

Earlier this month, Isam B said on the podcast “Platform” that “one of the most feminist things” a woman can do is to wear a niqab, “where you’re basically a ninja”.

“[…] It’s hugely provocative. We men want to see you, but you can see us and we can’t see you,” Isam B said on the podcast.

His comments quickly drew criticism, including from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Women’s Society and Thomas Skriver Jensen, who called for “Ramadan i København” to be removed from Højskolesangbogen.

Nazi views

In their statement, the committee behind the 19th edition and the Association of Danish Folk High Schools first point out that the committee completed its work in 2019 and has no involvement in the forthcoming 20th edition.

They also state that the selection of songs was based primarily on their content and quality. The approximately 630 different authors and composers represented in the songbook were not screened for potentially controversial statements or views that might conflict with the values of the folk high school movement.

“It is our view that one should be cautious about rejecting art on the basis of an artist’s life and opinions. That is also why we have chosen to include, for example, Harald Bergstedt’s songs ‘Jeg ved en lærkerede’ and ‘Solen er så rød, mor’ in Højskolesangbogen despite his openly Nazi views. There are undoubtedly other examples if one goes through the book with a fine-tooth comb,” the statement says.

The statement also points out that Isam B is not the sole creator of “Ramadan i KBH”. The song was written by Özcan Ajrulovski, Nana Jacobi, Isam B and Anders Greis.