Denmark outlawed the public burning of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, after facing severe criticism from Muslim countries. The new law, which was passed by the parliament on Thursday (Dec 7), imposes a fine or a jail term of up to two years for anyone who “inappropriately treats” religious texts.
The move comes after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a group of 57 Muslim-majority nations, urged its members in July to take action against countries where the Quran was being desecrated.
The Danish government said the law was necessary to protect religious freedom and prevent hate crimes. It also said the law would have a minimal impact on free speech, as other forms of criticism of religion would still be allowed.
However, the law was opposed by some parties who argued that it violated the liberal values of Denmark. Inger Stojberg, leader of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats party, said the law was a surrender to external pressure and a betrayal of the country’s history.
“History will judge us harshly for this, and with good reason… What it all comes down to is whether a restriction on freedom of speech is determined by us, or whether it is dictated from the outside,” said Stojberg.
Denmark and its neighbor Sweden have witnessed several incidents of Quran burning in recent months, sparking protests and violence from Muslim communities. According to police data, there were 483 cases of book burning or flag burning in Denmark between July 21 and October 24 this year.
Sweden, which also faced a strong reaction from the Muslim world, is considering ways to limit Quran burning and reduce tensions. Earlier this year, the country raised its terror alert level to the second-highest after the Quran burning made it a “prioritized target,” according to the security services.
