Danish government’s move to enact law against Quran burning faces obstacles
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) – The Danish government’s intention to explore legal options to stop Quran burning incidents faces political and social hurdles.
At least seven parties have opposed the adoption of legal measures. They believe such measures could interfere with freedom of speech and expression.
The ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots) has carried out these actions outside the embassies of Türkiye, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, with Danish police protection potentially leading to a diplomatic crisis.
The Danish government has distanced itself from the incidents and is considering legal changes to address them.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proposed measures to ban the desecration of holy books such as the Quran without restricting freedom of expression in the country.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the government is open to considering legal means to intervene in situations where other countries, cultures, and religions are degraded.
Leaders of Denmark’s Muslim community say there is a major problem of Islamophobia in Danish society.
They call for measures to ensure that minority groups are not targeted in Denmark.
According to the European Islamophobia Report 2022, Denmark is considered one of the countries where Muslims are most at risk, along with France and Austria.
The Muslim population in Denmark accounts for about 5% of the total population of 6 million.
“Danish Muslims are used to these Quran burnings … In fact, this whole phenomenon started from Denmark,” said Urfan Zahoor, spokesperson for the Danish Muslim Union (DMU), the largest umbrella group for Muslim associations and mosques in the country.
“For years, we have been trying to convince politicians that these acts shouldn’t be a part of democratic society, but somehow we didn’t succeed.”
On the argument over freedom of expression, he asserted that every society and country “has their own boundary.”
“Some don’t want to talk about the king or the queen, or allow Holocaust denials, or the burning of flags of foreign countries,” he said in a video interview with Turkish Anadolu news agency.
“Every country decides for themselves what is good for their society. We want to convince people that the Danish society we are a part of should develop into one where no minority groups are targeted.”
From discriminatory legislation to actual acts of aggression and violence, the Muslim community in Denmark has repeatedly raised concerns over a growing wave of Islamophobia in the country.
“We want broader measures that aim for a long-lasting solution,” he reiterated.
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