DENMARK: Investigation about Jehovah’s Witnesses triggered by a tabloid ends in their favour
A careful analysis concluded that the Witnesses do comply with Danish law. The Danish Press Council stated that their critics at “Ekstra Bladet” violated the Press Code.
by Massimo Introvigne
Bitter Winter (15.12.2025) – The Danish Ministry of Local Government, Rural Affairs, and Church Affairs has now closed one of the most unusual investigations in recent years. On November 24, 2025, the Ministry issued its final letter, ending its supervision of Jehovah’s Witnesses and concluding that the religious community does not violate Danish law.
The case, which had begun in September 2024 after a series of sensational articles in the tabloid “Ekstra Bladet,” alleged that Jehovah’s Witnesses mishandled domestic violence and child abuse cases. After more than a year of scrutiny, the Ministry found no evidence to support these claims.
The origins of the investigation reveal how media pressure can shape official action. In 2024, “Ekstra Bladet” published articles claiming inter alia that Jehovah’s Witnesses had failed to report a case of domestic violence and that their internal procedures for handling allegations of child abuse were inadequate. These articles suggested that the community’s practices might contravene Section 7 of the Religious Communities Act of 2017, which requires recognized religious communities not to engage in activities that violate Danish law. In response, the Ministry opened a formal investigation on September 25, 2024, requesting Jehovah’s Witnesses to submit documents, including their elders’ handbook and child protection policies, and to comment on the allegations.
Jehovah’s Witnesses responded promptly. In October 2024, they submitted a detailed letter disputing the claims and affirming that their practices complied with Danish law. They provided their child protection policy, which explicitly states that the duty to report child abuse must be observed. They also enclosed excerpts from the elders’ handbook “Be Shepherds of God’s Flock,” the “Child Sexual Abuse—Guidelines for Branch Office Service Desks,” and the 2003 “Letter to All Elders Regarding the Handling of Allegations of Child Abuse.” These documents demonstrated that elders are instructed to cooperate with police and social services and that victims and their families are encouraged to report abuse to authorities. Legal scholar Eva Smith and psychologist Kuno Sørensen of Save the Children confirmed that the guidelines were consistent with Danish law.
The Ministry carefully reviewed this material. It noted that the elders’ handbook explicitly states that the religious community does not protect perpetrators of sexual abuse and that elders must immediately contact the legal department for advice to ensure compliance with reporting laws. While the Ministry clarified that contacting the legal department is not sufficient to fulfill the duty to report, it accepted that the procedure was designed to assist elders in notifying the authorities. The Ministry also acknowledged that the use of the word “right” in global documents—stating that victims have the “right” to report abuse, while under Danish law this is an “obligation”—was a matter of translation for international audiences, and that in Denmark, Jehovah’s Witnesses comply with the legal obligation to report.
The conclusion was decisive. The Ministry stated: “Based on the religious community’s documents and guidelines, it cannot be concluded that Jehovah’s Witnesses engage in or encourage anything that contravenes Danish legislation on reporting crimes against children or dealing with violence. Furthermore, no specific examples of criminal sanctions against the religious community in relation to the circumstances mentioned above have been presented. Based on the information available in the case, the Ministry assesses that there is no basis for concluding that Jehovah’s Witnesses in the cases described have established procedures whereby the religious community encourages or engages in activities that contravene provisions of Danish law and are thereby in violation of the recognition condition in section 7(1)(2) of the Religious Communities Act.”
In other words, “Ekstra Bladet’s” allegations were inaccurate and baseless. Jehovah’s Witnesses had complied with the law for decades, and their procedures were consistent with Danish child protection requirements.
Photo:A Jehovah’s Witness evangelizing in Ebeltoft, Denmark. Source: JW.org.
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