Denmark to Ban Quran Burnings to Protect National Security
To safeguard national security and maintain social harmony, the Danish government is planning to ban public Quran burnings. The proposed legislation, presented by Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard, aims to prohibit the “inappropriate treatment of objects of significant religious value to a religious community.”
The law would also encompass actions such as trampling or any other form of desecration of these objects. It specifically targets actions carried out in public places or with the intention of gaining widespread attention. The existing law already prohibiting the burning of foreign flags will be extended accordingly.
Following several incidents of Quran desecration in Denmark, violent protests erupted in the Muslim world. Quran burnings are deemed “inherently contemptuous and unfriendly acts” that “harm Denmark and its interests,” said Hummelgaard.
Instances of Quran desecration and burnings have recently occurred in Sweden as well as Denmark, leading to strained relations between these countries and Muslim-majority nations, and even resulting in outbreaks of violence. Consequently, both Denmark and Sweden enhanced their security measures.
The Danish Minister of Justice, Hummelgaard, emphasized that national security was the primary motive behind the proposed law. “We cannot continue to passively observe some individuals deliberately provoking violent reactions,” he stated.
In early August, Denmark heightened its border controls with Germany due to a threat stemming from Quran burnings. However, these measures have since been scaled back.
The legislation applies not only to desecrations of the Quran but also to acts targeting the Bible, the Torah, and religious symbols like crucifixes. Those found guilty of violating the law could face fines and up to two years of imprisonment.
Both Denmark and Sweden had previously refrained from imposing such a ban, citing freedom of speech and assembly. Hummelgaard stressed that freedom of expression is “a cornerstone of Danish democracy” and the “central value of Danish society.” He acknowledged that the proposed law constitutes a focused intervention but emphasized that it does not alter the fact that freedom of speech in Denmark must be upheld within broad parameters.