Libel constitutes a criminal act under section 267 of the Danish Criminal Code which are sanctioned with a fine or imprisonment not exceeding 4 months. The punishment may be increased to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months. Proceedings are initiated by the victim. Furthermore, section 266 b provides that “any person who, publicly or with the intention of wider dissemination, makes a statement or imparts other information by which a group of people are threatened, insulted or degraded on account of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or sexual inclination shall be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.” In 1995, this provision was amended, making it a mandatory aggravating circumstance if the dissemination of racist or other views is characterized as propaganda.
