Protests have been ongoing around the world — both from governments and citizens — following the burning of the Holy Quran in Denmark, in front of foreign embassies, as part of protests.
After widespread condemnation of such acts, including by the Qatari Government, Denmark’s government is seeking legal options to make such protests illegal.
statement | Qatar Strongly Condemns the Burning of a Copy of the Holy Quran in Denmark#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/YtRgzMcSUf
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) July 23, 2023
Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, in an interview on Sunday with public broadcaster DR, said the burning of holy scriptures ‘only served the purpose of creating division in a world that actually needs unity.’
“That’s why we’ve decided in the government that we’ll look at how, in very special situations, we can put an end to mockery of other countries, which is in direct conflict with Danish interests and the safety of the Danes,” he said.
A number of public desecrations of the holy book, by a few anti-Islam activists in Denmark and Sweden, have sparked angry demonstrations in Muslim countries.
Lokke Rasmussen said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s cabinet was determined to find ‘a legal tool’ to prohibit such acts without compromising freedom of expression. However, he acknowledged it would not be easy.
“There must be room for religious criticism, and we’ve no thoughts of reintroducing a blasphemy clause. But when you stand up in front of a foreign embassy and burn a Quran or burn the Torah scroll in front of the Israeli embassy, it serves no other purpose than to mock,” he said.
The Danish government had repeated its condemnation of such desecrations, saying they are ‘deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals’ and ‘do not represent the values the Danish society is built on.”
In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sunday on Instagram that his government is analyzing the legal situation regarding desecration of the Quran and other holy books, given the animosity such acts are stirring up against Sweden.
“We’re in the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War,” Kristersson said.
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