The Danish government announced on Friday its intention to pass a bill that would make the public burning of religious scriptures a criminal offense.
The legislation aims to address the burning of both the Bible and the Quran, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
In response to recent incidents of Quran burnings, Denmark’s reputation has suffered internationally, being perceived as a nation that tolerates actions demeaning to other countries and religions, the statement noted.
The proposed bill is focused on actions carried out in public spaces or with the intention of broader dissemination. Verbal or written expressions, including drawings, will not fall under its purview.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard emphasized, “These disrespectful actions have detrimental effects on the safety of Danish citizens, both within the country and abroad.”
The new law, if passed, would specifically criminalize public burning of the Bible or the Quran.
‘Destruction of Books is Counterproductive – They Should Be Read’
Deputy Prime Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen highlighted that desecrating the holy scriptures of any faith “serves no other purpose than to provoke for the sake of provocation.”
He stressed, “This situation has put Denmark in a precarious position on the global stage. The government cannot remain passive. Books should never be burned; they should be embraced through reading.”
Foreign Minister Lars Lookke Rasmussen voiced concern that the incidents of Quran burnings in Denmark have led to a perception that Denmark supports the defamation of other countries and religions.
Rasmussen welcomed the proposed legislation as a means to halt the ongoing insult and degradation that has been occurring within Denmark.
The bill is slated to undergo a four-week period of public consultation and is anticipated to be introduced during the opening week of the upcoming parliamentary session.
To account for potential shifts in the situation, the government aims to have the bill ready by September 1, 2023, enabling swift consideration and potential adoption within the current parliamentary session.
Rising Incidents of Quran Burning in Denmark and Sweden
Both Sweden and Denmark have faced significant backlash for allowing public displays of desecration of the Quran, often carried out under police protection.
Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish-Danish politician affiliated with the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Party, continued his Quran burning demonstrations in various Swedish cities and in Denmark, drawing substantial attention during last year’s Easter holiday.
Instances include burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Sweden on January 21 and outside the Turkish Embassy in Denmark on January 27.
During the Eid al-Adha festival, Iraqi-born refugee Salwan Momika burned a Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on January 28. He later discarded a copy of the Quran and the Iraqi flag outside the Iraqi Embassy in Sweden on July 20, followed by another Quran burning in front of the Swedish parliament on July 31.
Further Quran burnings took place in August by Iranian immigrant Bahrami Marjan, including an incident on August 3 in Angbybadet, Stockholm, and another outside the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm.
The proposed legislation in Denmark is a response to these provocative acts, aiming to curtail such actions and their associated impact.
