Denmark passes law against desecration of Holy Quran. In a landmark decision, Denmark’s parliament has approved a groundbreaking law criminalizing the public burning of religious texts, with a specific focus on addressing protests linked to the desecration of the Holy Quran in Muslim-majority nations.
The legislation, which received 94 votes in favor and faced opposition from 77 members in the 179-seat Folketing, is designed to curb the disrespectful treatment of significant religious writings.
It explicitly targets actions such as public burning, tearing, or defilement of holy texts, including their dissemination through videos.
The law, which is expected to receive formal approval from Queen Margrethe later this month, carries penalties of fines or up to two years in prison for offenders.
The impetus behind this legislative move is rooted in concerns about what is perceived as “systematic mockery,” contributing to an escalated terrorism threat in Denmark. This concern has been amplified, particularly in the aftermath of public protests earlier this year that involved the burning of the Holy Quran.
Denmark witnessed 483 incidents of book or flag burnings between July 21 and October 24, prompting the introduction of the bill in August.
Amendments were carefully incorporated into the legislation to strike a delicate balance between preserving freedom of expression and addressing national security considerations.
While the legislation has garnered support, critics, including Inger Stojberg of the Denmark Democrats party, contend that restrictions on religious criticism may jeopardize hard-fought liberal freedoms.
The centrist coalition government, however, reassures the public that the impact on free speech will be minimal, underscoring that other forms of religious criticism will remain within the bounds of legality.
This legislative development unfolds against the backdrop of Denmark’s 2006 controversy when a newspaper published cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad, sparking widespread outrage in the Muslim world.
As Denmark passes law against desecration of Holy Quran, simultaneously, Sweden is actively exploring alternative approaches to address Quran desecration, contemplating the role of national security in police decisions during public protests.
