Denmark’s parliament has passed a new law prohibiting the public desecration of sacred texts, including the Holy Quran. Under this legislation, individuals who publicly desecrate, burn, or damage any holy book, such as the Holy Quran, may face up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
Instances of burning the Holy Quran in Denmark prompted significant backlash in the Muslim world, leading to this law’s approval. The bill received 94 votes in favor and 77 against among the 179-member parliament. It aims to prohibit disrespectful actions towards religious texts and writings considered significant by various religious communities.
This law will effectively ban public burning or tearing of sacred texts and also extends to videos that depict such desecration with the intention of widespread dissemination. Violating this law may result in fines, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. The bill is set to be signed by Queen Margaret this month after parliamentary approval.
The Danish Ministry of Justice stated that this law seeks to curb the effects of ‘systematic ridicule,’ which is believed to contribute to increased terrorism threats in the country.
This year, incidents of burning the Holy Quran in public spaces occurred in Denmark and Sweden, sparking strong protests from the Muslim world and the local Muslim communities in these countries.