A heated election debate at a high school in Albertslund has led to the expulsion of a local council member from Denmark’s Conservative People’s Party just days before voters head to the polls.
Conservative Party expels local council member after heated school debate
A few days before Denmark’s municipal elections, the Conservative People’s Party in Albertslund decided to expel city council member Billal Zahoor. The decision followed a tense election debate at Next Vestskoven Gymnasium in which Zahoor allegedly said that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, should be hanged.
According to several witnesses present at the debate, he made the remark while responding to a student’s question about what should happen if Netanyahu visited Denmark. Zahoor reportedly called the Israeli leader a war criminal and added that he should face the same treatment as he had inflicted on Palestinians. The comment drew applause from parts of the student audience, but it quickly caused an uproar among fellow candidates and within his party.
Party leadership: comment incompatible with Conservative values
The Conservative group in Albertslund said the statement crossed a fundamental line. Party leaders explained that such rhetoric was not compatible with Conservative principles, which emphasize order and responsibility. Zahoor’s comment, they said, violated the expectations set for anyone representing the party in public.
The group’s local chair described hearing about the incident as shocking and unacceptable. The Conservatives quickly concluded that Zahoor could no longer remain a party member. They stressed that the organization cannot tolerate any suggestion that someone should be harmed, regardless of political context.
The controversy also highlights how tightly Denmark’s right-of-center parties guard their identity compared to parties with a more socialist or progressive tradition.
Zahoor denies using those words
Zahoor rejected the accusation, stating that his comments were taken out of context. Yet multiple participants, including representatives from the Social Democrats, Liberal Alliance, and Dansk Folkeparti, all confirmed he used wording calling for Netanyahu to be hanged.
In a written reply, Zahoor admitted that “a few words may have slipped out” during the emotional debate but called his removal from the party “too harsh.” He explained that witnessing violence in the Middle East had affected him deeply and that his reaction came from feelings of helplessness and sorrow. He insisted, however, that Netanyahu should face a war crimes tribunal rather than any physical punishment.
Reactions from other politicians and educators
Other candidates present at the event expressed shock. One from the Danish People’s Party said it was “a crazy way to talk about another human being,” especially at a school debate where many students would be voting for the first time.
Teachers attending the debate shared this concern. Anne Juhl Nielsen, a teacher at the gymnasium, said the remark went against the values the school works to instill. The faculty, she said, spends considerable time teaching students to argue rationally and avoid emotional outbursts during discussions. Hearing a local politician use violent language, she felt, undermined those efforts.
Candidate still appears on ballot
Even though Zahoor has been expelled, his name will still appear on the ballot for Tuesday’s municipal election. Due to tight deadlines, local election officials confirmed there was no way to remove him from the official list in time. He will therefore be listed as a Conservative candidate despite no longer being affiliated with the party.
Zahoor said he regrets putting both himself and his colleagues in this position. He also reflected that while he has been a loyal party member for more than twelve years, he accepts the outcome, recognizing that his outspoken support for Palestine may not fit within the current Conservative framework.
For now, the situation underscores how political rhetoric can rapidly shift from passionate to unacceptable, especially in the age of instant reactions and social media debates. The episode has sparked fresh discussion about how candidates should balance personal convictions with party loyalty, particularly in a country with a strong emphasis on respectful democratic dialogue.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Is Denmark socialist? Danish socialism explained by social scientist
TV2: Byrådsmedlem smidt ud af de konservative efter ophedet debat
