Outcry as Danish Authorities Remove Infant from Greenlandic Woman Hour After Birth
25.08.2025
The Guardian has brought to light a deeply troubling case in Denmark involving the removal of a newborn from her Greenlandic mother, Ivana Nikoline Brønlund, just one hour after birth—despite a recent legal ban on the use of controversial parenting assessments for individuals of Greenlandic heritage.
Ivana Nikoline Brønlund had only one hour with Aviaja-Luuna, before the baby girl was taken away. Photograph: Ivana Nikoline Brønlund
Brønlund, 18, gave birth to her daughter, Aviaja-Luuna, on 11 August in Hvidovre, near Copenhagen. Shortly after, local authorities placed the infant in foster care, citing results from a “parenting competence” test known as FKU. These tests were outlawed for Greenlandic citizens in May following widespread criticism that they were culturally biased and discriminatory against Inuit families.
Despite her Greenlandic roots—born in Nuuk to Greenlandic parents—Brønlund was told the law didn’t apply to her. Authorities began testing her in April, after the ban had already been announced, and completed the assessments in June, when the law was in effect. She was informed weeks before delivery that her child would be taken.
The case has sparked protests across Greenland and internationally, with demonstrations planned in Copenhagen, Reykjavík, Nuuk and it is also reported that there will be a demonstration in Belfast. Campaigners argue that Brønlund is being punished for trauma inflicted by her adoptive father, who is currently imprisoned for abuse. Her adoptive mother, Gitte, expressed outrage, saying, “It feels like you are not allowed to have a trauma if you are going to be a mum.”
Brønlund has only seen her daughter once since the birth, under strict supervision. Her appeal is scheduled for 16 September. Danish Social Affairs Minister Sophie Hæstorp Andersen has called for an explanation from the Høje-Taastrup municipality, reiterating that standardised tests must not be used in such cases.
Activists continue to demand urgent political intervention, warning that the misuse of these assessments risks further harm to vulnerable Greenlandic families.