In a bid to uphold national security and counteract provocative actions, the Danish government has introduced a new proposed bill that could potentially lead to the prohibition of public Quran burnings. The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, stressed the substantial political message that this move conveys to the global community.
As per the provisions of this new proposed bill, the act of burning a Quran in public could be classified as an offense subject to punishment, including fines or imprisonment of up to two years. Peter Hummelgaard, the Minister of Justice, outlined that the intended law would be woven into the existing framework that presently outlaws the desecration of national flags.
The new proposed Danish bill would encompass the concept of preventing the “disrespectful treatment of objects of profound religious importance to a faith community,” Hummelgaard explained. During a press conference, he emphasized that the recent string of Quran burnings represented futile provocations aimed at fomenting “discord and animosity.” He further underscored that the primary motive behind this proposed ban was the preservation of national security.
Recent developments have witnessed commendation from both the United States and the United Kingdom governments for Danish authorities’ efforts in thwarting multiple planned “terrorist” attacks and making arrests following the Quran burnings. “We cannot remain passive observers while a few individuals persist in inciting violent reactions,” Hummelgaard emphasized.
This new proposed bill extends its purview to encompass criminalizing the public burning of not only the Muslim holy book, the Quran, but also other sacred texts such as the Bible and the Torah. However, the timeline for presenting this proposal to the Danish Parliament’s 179-seat assembly remains unspecified.
The governing coalition, comprising three parties and holding 88 seats, enjoys additional support from four politicians representing the semi-autonomous Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Recent Instances of Quran Burnings in Denmark and Sweden Recent times have witnessed instances of far-right demonstrators and individuals with Islamophobic sentiments publicly burning copies of the Quran in both Denmark and neighboring Sweden. Denmark, known for its secular outlook, abolished blasphemy laws in 2017, and Sweden similarly has no existing blasphemy laws.
These provocative actions, considered deeply offensive within the Muslim world, have elicited strong reactions across various countries. Many have implored European governments to take decisive measures to curb these incidents and their potentially divisive repercussions.
In July, a planned Quran burning outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm led to a protest where hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. The Swedish government has indicated that while it does not intend to make sweeping amendments to its freedom of speech laws, it is exploring measures that would empower law enforcement to intervene if there’s a discernible threat to national security arising from the public burning of sacred texts.
