Those that break the legislation – which forbids publicly burning, tearing or defiling holy texts – threat a wonderful or as much as two years in jail.
Denmark’s parliament has handed a invoice that makes it unlawful to burn copies of the Quran in public locations after protests in Muslim nations over the desecration of Islam’s holy ebook raised safety issues.
The invoice, which prohibits “inappropriate therapy of writings with important non secular significance for a recognised non secular group”, was handed with 94 votes in favour and 77 opposed within the 179-seat Folketing on Thursday.
In sensible phrases, will probably be forbidden to burn, tear or in any other case defile holy texts publicly or in movies supposed to be disseminated broadly.
Those that break the legislation threat a wonderful or as much as two years in jail. Earlier than it takes impact, Queen Margrethe must formally signal it. That’s anticipated to occur this month.
The aim of the legislation is to counter “the systematic mockery” that, amongst different issues, has contributed to intensifying the specter of terrorism in Denmark, the Ministry of Justice stated.
Rising protests
Denmark and Sweden skilled a collection of public protests this 12 months through which anti-Islam activists burned or in any other case broken copies of the Quran, sparking tensions with Muslims and triggering calls for that the governments ban the observe.
Lots of of protesters tried to march to the Danish embassy in Baghdad‘s fortified Inexperienced Zone in late July after a name by influential Shia non secular and political chief Moqtada al-Sadr.
In response to the worsened safety scenario, the Scandinavian nation quickly tightened border controls.
From July 21 to October 24, 483 book burnings or flag burnings have been recorded in Denmark, in response to nationwide police figures.
The invoice, initially announced at the end of August, was amended after criticism that its first draft restricted freedom of expression and could be troublesome to implement. It was initially deliberate to cowl objects of serious non secular significance.
Denmark has sought to strike a steadiness between constitutionally protected freedom of speech, together with the best to criticise faith, and nationwide safety over fears that Quran burnings would set off assaults.
Home critics in Sweden and Denmark have argued that any limitations on criticising faith, together with by burning Qurans, undermine hard-fought liberal freedoms within the area.
“Historical past will choose us harshly for this and with good cause. … What all of it comes all the way down to is whether or not a restriction on freedom of speech is decided by us or whether or not it’s dictated from the surface,” stated Inger Stojberg, chief of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats occasion, who opposed the ban.
Denmark’s centrist coalition authorities has argued the brand new guidelines can have solely a marginal influence on free speech and criticising faith in different methods stays authorized.
In 2006, Denmark was on the centre of widespread anger within the Muslim world after a Danish newspaper posted 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, together with one carrying a bomb as a turban. Muslims contemplate pictures of the prophet as being sacrilegious and inspiring idolatry. The photographs escalated into violent anti-Denmark protests by Muslims worldwide.
Sweden, too, is contemplating methods to legally restrict Quran desecrations however is taking a unique strategy than Denmark.
It’s wanting into whether or not police ought to think about nationwide safety when deciding on purposes for public protests.