Participant withdraws from Danish debate championship over past assault case

A participant has withdrawn from this year’s Danish national debating championship (DM i debat) after discovering that a contestant who struck her in the face in 2018 was also registered to compete, DR reports.

Line Rasmussen, a member of Radikal Ungdom and a former parliamentary candidate for the Danish Social Liberal Party, said her body reacted physically and she felt unwell when she saw the participant list. She said she was critical and disappointed that the organisers, the newspaper Politiken and the Danish Youth Council (DUF), had not grasped the implications of a case involving violence.

Rasmussen stated that the other participant, Mads Fencker, representing the Magisk Cirkel Danmark magic society, hit her twice with an open hand during a university orientation course in 2018. The pair later had a relationship, which has since ended, and she said she did not initially perceive the incident as violence. She reported the case in 2021 after stress-related sick leave and therapy, she said.

A letter from the Danish National Police the same year stated that the prosecution assessed Fencker guilty of having delivered “two slaps in the face with an open hand” to Rasmussen. However, the prosecution chose not to take the case to court, citing “limited use of violence,” no “significant injury,” and the fact that the violence occurred in 2018. Fencker received a deferred prosecution (tiltalefrafald) while the prosecution still considered him guilty. Fencker confirmed the incident, said he regretted it and had apologised, and told DR he understood Rasmussen’s strong feelings.

After informing the organisers, Rasmussen said she had to explain what a deferred prosecution means and what typically happens to victims in such cases. She contacted Danner, a crisis and knowledge centre for women exposed to violence, which advised her to avoid further harm. She said she was initially told that the organisers leaned toward excluding Fencker, but days later they said they did not know what to do and postponed a decision. After two weeks, Politiken and DUF offered both parties the option to withdraw while guaranteeing a place in next year’s competition; Rasmussen accepted. She accused the organisers of lacking leadership and failing to ensure a safe and proper contest.

DM i debat is held annually by Politiken and DUF, with 32 young participants aged 16 to 30 competing. Eight semifinalists are selected after two preliminary rounds, and the final takes place at the Folkemødet event on Bornholm, where the winner is crowned. Former winners include Social Democratic Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard.