Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Following NATO's air campaign in Libya, Human Rights Watch documented civilian deaths and criticised the Alliance for failing to conduct a sufficiently thorough investigation. Rasmussen had stated that NATO had no confirmed civilian casualties, before the Alliance acknowledged that civilians might have been killed.

State of the evidence

airstrikes and Human Rights Watch investigations documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal proceedings; collective operational responsibility of NATO

Attribution

institutional responsibility as NATO Secretary General for the Alliance's communications and response

Under Rasmussen, Denmark increased its military involvement in Afghanistan and deployed forces in the highly dangerous Helmand province. Danish casualties and the length of the war fuelled debate over the objectives, risks and effectiveness of the strategy.

State of the evidence

deployment and government policy documented

Legal status — source text

no personal legal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility for increasing Danish military involvement

The Rasmussen government committed Denmark to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The legal basis, the quality of intelligence concerning weapons of mass destruction and the information provided to the Folketing became subjects of lasting controversy and legal and political challenges.

State of the evidence

military involvement, legal debates and political challenges documented

Legal status — source text

constitutional and civil challenges; no personal criminal conviction

Attribution

political responsibility as Prime Minister for the decision to commit Denmark

Journalist Bo Elkjær complained that he had been excluded from Rasmussen's interviews on Iraq for a prolonged period following critical articles. The Ombudsman found that the Prime Minister's Office had not documented sufficient concrete and objective reasons once the Prime Minister resumed granting interviews on the subject, and requested that the matter be reconsidered.

State of the evidence

repeated refusals, complaint and Ombudsman's decision documented

Legal status — source text

no conviction; Ombudsman requested concrete justification and reconsideration

Attribution

institutional responsibility of the Prime Minister's Office; no personal illegality definitively established

After Jyllands-Posten published cartoons depicting Muhammad, eleven ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries requested a meeting with Rasmussen. His initial refusal, based on press independence, became a central issue in a global diplomatic crisis involving boycotts, demonstrations and attacks on Danish diplomatic missions.

State of the evidence

diplomatic chronology, refusal of meeting and public statements documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility for the government's handling of the crisis

The Rasmussen government substantially tightened asylum and family reunification rules and certain benefits for newcomers. Supporters welcomed the policy as necessary immigration control, while critics considered it excessively restrictive and discriminatory.

State of the evidence

legislative reforms and government statements documented

Legal status — source text

no personal legal proceedings

Attribution

political responsibility as Prime Minister and advocate of government policy