Denmark’s parliament passed a new law on Thursday that forbids the desecration of the Quran or any other holy book within the nation.
Anger-filled protests in Muslim nations followed a recent spate of public desecrations of the Quran by a few anti-Islamic activists.
Danish Govt. Passed Law Against Burning of Quran
Outside of Scandinavia, the country has perceived as a breeding ground for insults and denigration of other people’s cultures, religions, and customs.
According to the justice ministry, the goal of the law was to combat “the systematic mockery,” which has increased the threat of terrorism in Denmark among other things.
“We must protect the security of Denmark and Danes,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said in a statement.
“That is why it is important that we now get better protection against the systematic desecrations we have seen for a long time.”
Approval of Bill
However, the bill approved by the Folketing, or parliament, by a vote of 94 to 77, with eight members not present.
The new legislation will make it a crime “to inappropriately treat, publicly or with the intention of dissemination in a wider circle, a writing with significant religious significance for a religious community or an object that appears as such.”
The prohibition does not apply to works of art where “a minor part” of the work involves desecration but is still a part of a larger artistic production.
Left-wing and far-right parties banded together to oppose the center-right government during the over four-hour debate, insisting on the participation of the three-party coalition that had presented the draft on August 25.
The opposition referred to the government as “cowards” for their silence.
Burning of Quran Incidents in 2023
More than 500 marches, including Quran burnings, have held by activists in front of Muslim embassies, houses of worship, and immigrant communities just this year.
Although Denmark has consistently distanced itself from the desecrations, it has maintained that one of the most significant values in Danish society is freedom of expression.
Moreover, the government stated that there should “be room for religious criticism.”
However, the blasphemy clause, which was removed in 2017, was not going to be reinstated.
The B.T. newspaper was informed by Oussama Elsaadi, the imam of a mosque located in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, that the statement is “a good message to all Muslims.”
To read our blog on “Solution seek by Danish gov to prevent Holy Quran desecration,” click here.
