[6][7][8][9][10] The provision against child pornography are set down in §§ 235 and 230 of the penal code:[11][12] The provision against libel is set down in § 267 of the penal code: Anybody who offends another person's honor by insulting words or actions or by stating or disseminating charges, that are suitable for reducing the insulted person in the esteem of fellow citizens, will be punished by fine or ordinary imprisonment.For 151 years, up until the middle of 2017, blasphemy was forbidden by § 140 of the penal code:[13] Anybody who publicly mocks or insults the religious doctrine or worship of any religious community lawfully existing in this country will be punished by fine or imprisonment for up to 4 monthsThe law was rarely used by prosecutors, however.
[21][22] The rules against hate speech and racism are set down in § 266b of the Danish penal code: Whoever publicly, or with intention to disseminating in a larger circle makes statements or other pronouncement, by which a group of persons is threatened, derided or degraded because of their race, colour of skin, national or ethnic background, faith or sexual orientation, will be punished by fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
When meting out the punishment it shall be considered an especially aggravating circumstance, if the count has the character of propaganda.Free speech advocate Lars Hedegaard was prosecuted under this statute for remarks made to a blogger in December 2009 criticizing Islam.
[23] Danish politician Jesper Langballe pleaded guilty and was convicted of hate speech for comments he made about rape and honour killings in Muslim families in a newspaper article in connection with Hedegaard's case.
[24] In February and March 2004 three Berlingske Tidende journalists, Michael Bjerre, Jesper Larsen, and Niels Lunde, were prosecuted for "harming state security" after publishing the details of classified intelligence reports about the lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.