Denmark’s parliament on Thursday passed a law making it illegal to burn the Koran in public places, seeking to de-escalate tensions with Muslim countries after a spate of Danish protests during which Islam’s holy book was burned, causing outrage.
Denmark and Sweden experienced a series of public protests this year where anti-Islam activists burned or otherwise damaged copies of the Koran, triggering demands that the Nordic governments ban the practice.
More than 500 demonstrations that included burnings of the Koran or flags were registered since July, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said.
Photo: AFP
“Such demonstrations can hurt Denmark’s relations to other nations, our interests and ultimately our safety,” Hummelgaard said.
Denmark has sought to strike a balance between constitutionally protected freedom of speech, including the right to criticize religion, and national security amid fears that Koran burnings would trigger attacks by Muslim extremists.
Domestic critics in Sweden and Denmark have argued that any limitations on criticizing religion, including by burning Korans, undermine hard-fought liberal freedoms in the region.
“History will judge us harshly for this, and with good reason,” said Inger Stojberg, leader of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats party. “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.”
Denmark’s centrist coalition government has argued that the new rules could have only a marginal impact on free speech and that criticizing religion in other ways remains legal.
The vote followed a five-hour debate in the Danish parliament and 94 members voted in favor, 77 against.
Breaking the new law will be punishable by fines or up to two years in prison, the Danish government has said.
Sweden is also considering how to prevent burning of the Koran, but is looking at whether police should factor in national security when deciding on protest applications rather than a ban.
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