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Denmark’s Queen Margrethe urges immigrants to adapt; cites Jewish community as ‘beautiful example’

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, the queen of Denmark, entered the debate on immigration and cited the minority Danish Jewish population as a prime example of success.

By: AP and World Israel News Staff

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark voiced her opinion on a debate over immigration, calling on immigrants to respect the country’s core values – even if they don’t like Danish food. The Queen pointed to the small Danish Jewish community as a prime example of a minority that maintained both Jewish and Danish values.

The figurehead monarch made national headlines by entering a tense debate about immigration ahead of her 75th birthday this week.

Margrethe said immigrants “don’t need to change religion or what they eat. It’s not about meat balls. It’s about adapting to the country they have come to.”

She was commenting on an interview she gave to a newspaper in which she urged newcomers to accept Denmark’s “mental climate” and cited the Jewish community as a “beautiful example” of a minority adapting to Danish society.

Denmark’s immigration debate intensified after February shooting attacks against a free speech event and a synagogue by a gunman with Palestinian roots.