Trykkefrihedsselskabet

{{nordicrightnav}}{{hatnote|Did you mean to look for [[Triskaidekaphobia]]?}}
'''Trykkefrihedsselskabet''' (literally "{{wpl|Freedom of the press|press-freedom}} society" in Danish) is a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[far-right]] organization that deals in [[Islamophobia|anti-Muslim]], anti-immigration, and [[counter-jihad]] activism.  It was founded by a group of Islamophobic Danish writers in 2004 after they were denied membership in the Danish PEN association on account of their extreme views.

==As a front==
The group claims to work to promote freedom of expression, but according to the late Tøger Seidenfaden, former editor-in-chief of ''Politiken'', this is merely a cover for their true purpose, promoting hatred against Muslims and foreigners.<ref>[http://www.humanisme.dk/logbog/log092.php Tøger Seidenfaden kontra Trykkefrihedsselskabet], humanisme.dk</ref> ''Politiken'' has written in an editoral that Trykkefrihedsselskabet promotes "conspiracy theorist drivel."<ref>[http://politiken.dk/debat/ledere/ECE1932388/trykkefrihedsselskabet-staar-afklaedt-tilbage/  Trykkefrihedsselskabet står afklædt tilbage], ''Politiken''</ref> The self-styled champions of free speech also had a curious selective interpretation of it when it came to who were allowed to participate in one of their debate meetings, refusing entry to a 20-year old university student named Jihad Taha solely on the basis of his Muslim name, despite the fact that he had paid for a ticket to attend. Taha subsequently lost a discrimination suit against Trykkefrihedsselskabet, whose spokesman allegedly called Taha a greedy media whore for suing; while the vice chairman called Taha's behavior impudent and in bad taste, saying he had "overplayed his victim card."<ref>[http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE2201640/frikendt-for-at-afvise-jihad-det-var-da-en-glaedelig-nyhed/ Frikendt for at afvise Jihad: Det var da en glædelig nyhed], ''Politiken'', February 6, 2014</ref><ref>[http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE2202261/trykkefrihedsselskabet-angriber-jihad-taha-han-er-fraek-og-usmagelig/ Trykkefrihedsselskabet angriber Jihad Taha: Han er fræk og usmagelig], ''Politiken'', February 7, 2014</ref> Oh, and Taha never had his ticket refunded either, btw.<ref>[http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE2201398/trykkefrihedsselskabet-maatte-gerne-afvise-jihad-taha/ Trykkefrihedsselskabet måtte gerne afvise Jihad Taha], ''Politiken'', February 6, 2014</ref>

==Trykkefrihedsprisen/Sapphoprisen==
''Trykkefrihedsprisen'', the "Freedom of Expression Prize," was awarded by the association until at least 2007, when the virulent Islamophobe and [[crank]] [[Daniel Pipes]] was the recipient of the prize.

It seems that ''Trykkefrihedsprisen'' is no longer awarded by the society, but has been replaced by ''Sapphoprisen'' (the ''Sappho Award''), which has seen recipients such as [[Melanie Phillips]] (2009), [[Eurabia]] peddler Mark Steyn (2010), [[Ezra Levant]] (2014), [[Roger Scruton]] (2016),<ref>[https://www.trykkefrihed.dk/sappho-award.htm The Sappho Award] page on the society’s website.</ref> and [[Tommy Robinson]] (2019).<ref>[https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/dansk-pris-til-britisk-hoejrefloejsaktivist-han-er-en-ledende Dansk pris til britisk højrefløjsaktivist: 'Han er en ledende ytringsfrihedsforkæmper'] (Danish award to British right wing activist: ‘He’s a leading defender of freedom of speech’), by Cathrine Lakmann, ''DR (The Danish Broadcasting Corporation)'', January 19, 2020.</ref><ref>Trykkefrihedsselskabet’s spokeswoman [https://www.trykkefrihed.dk/aia-fogs-speech-at-the-2019-sappho-award-to-tommy-robinson-saturday-january-18-2020.htm  lauded Robinson as a bastion of free speech and democracy, working for ''”a free and open English society“''] (sic!) when chugging the award his way in a blaze of fear mongering, [[red baiting]] and general conspiracy theory rhetoric on January 19, 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.trykkefrihed.dk/blog/2516/the-sappho-award-2019-tommy-robinsons-speech.htm The Sappho Award 2019 - Tommy Robinson's speech,] from the society’s website, January 21, 2020</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ingrid Carlqvist]]
*[[Rasmus Paludan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Denmark]]
[[Category:Islamophobia]]
[[Category:Misnomers]]
[[Category:Racism]]

Categories: Denmark, Islamophobia, Misnomers, Racism