Within four decades of immigration, Muslims has become the largest minority-religion in Denmark. This has resulted in needs for Muslim institutions in Denmark such as burial places, educational institutions and places for prayer. The need for these religious institutions has been disputed since they began put up or lease buildings for this purpose.

   Through a discussion of three decades of debates on the building of a Mosque in Copenhagen, the paper will show how the articulation on Muslims among Danish politicians attempt to construct “otherness” (explicit) and “Danishness” (implicit) in certain ways. Hereby they construct Muslims as the “otherness” of Danish identity. Muslims become in this way what, in one and the same time makes Danish identity possible and impossible. Possible, because Muslims as a relation of difference is, what gives identity to the notions “Danishness” and “Danish culture”. Impossible, because it is, what prevents “the Danishness” in becoming complete.