Denmark Proposes Bill to Prevent Public Burning of Religious Texts including the Qur’an

By Yousuf Ali

The Danish government presented a bill on Friday, that could lead to a ban on publicly burning the Quran. This proposed legislation comes as a response to recent incidents where copies of the Quran were burned in Denmark and Sweden, often by far-right protesters and Islamophobic agitators.

The bill, titled “Denmark Proposes Bill Aimed at Preventing Quran Burnings,” would make burning a Quran publicly punishable by fines or imprisonment of up to two years. The law also would forbid burning the Bible and the Torah making Islam not uniquely protected by it.

According to Al Jazeera, Peter Hummelgaard, the justice minister, explained that the proposed law aims to prohibit the “improper treatment of objects of significant religious significance to a religious community.” He characterized the recent Quran burnings as “senseless taunts” aimed at inciting “discord and hatred,” stressing that national security was the primary motivation behind the ban.

Hummelgaard further stated, “We can’t continue to stand by with our arms crossed while several individuals do everything they can to provoke violent reactions.” The bill covers the Quran and extends to the public burning of the Bible or Torah, making it a criminal offense.

The Danish government’s move has garnered attention globally, with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen emphasizing its significance. Rasmussen stated, “This sends an important political signal about the values Denmark stands for and it sends a signal to the rest of the world.”

While Denmark is known for its secular approach and abolished blasphemy laws in 2017, these recent incidents have prompted the government to address provocations more decisively. Sweden, which also lacks blasphemy laws, is considering measures to prevent public burning of holy books if they pose a clear threat to national security.

The timeline for presenting the proposal to the Danish Parliament, known as the Folketing, remains uncertain. According to Euronews, the governing coalition, along with support from lawmakers representing semi-independent Danish territories, holds a majority in the 179-seat Folketing.

Denmark’s proactive approach to addressing provocations while respecting freedom of expression and unity underscores the complexities surrounding freedom, religious respect, and social harmony.