Denmark to ban Quran burnings

The Danish government presented a bill on Friday August 25 to ban the burning of the Koran, after the unrest aroused in several Muslim countries by desecrations of the holy book of Islam on its soil.

The law will “prohibit the inappropriate treatment of objects of significant religious significance to a religious community”said the Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard during a press briefing, specifying that he was targeting in particular the burning or trampling of these objects in public places.

“Fundamentally contemptuous and unsympathetic act”the act of burning a Quran “harm to Denmark and Danish interests”, estimated the Keeper of the Seals. The new text is to be included in Chapter 12 of the Penal Code, which deals with national security.

The Bible and the Torah also protected

“This is the heart and motivation of what we do”he insisted. “We cannot continue to sit idly by while a few individuals do everything they can to provoke violent reactions”underlined Peter Hummelgaard.

The legal provision will also apply to desecrations of the Bible, Torah or religious symbols like the crucifix. The offender is liable to a fine and a two-year prison sentence.