COPENHAGEN: A small group of anti-Islam activists known as the “Danish Patriots” set fire to copies of the Holy Qur’an in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen on Tuesday, escalating a series of similar protests in Denmark and Sweden that have sparked outrage among Muslims.
Both Denmark and Sweden have expressed their disapproval of the Holy Qur’an burnings, citing the importance of free speech, but they cannot prevent such demonstrations under the laws protecting the right to express opinions freely. Last week, protests in Iraq led to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad being set ablaze.
The Danish Patriots’ latest demonstration in Copenhagen follows similar Holy Qur’an burnings they staged on Monday and last week in front of the Iraqi embassy. Sweden has also witnessed two such incidents in the past month.
Global Outrage Against Sweden and Denmark
In response to the protests, Egypt summoned Sweden’s chargé d’affaires to denounce the Holy Qur’an burning incidents, expressing strong condemnation and complete rejection of the repeated abuse of the Holy Qur’an. Meanwhile, Iraq’s foreign ministry called on EU countries to reconsider the concept of “freedom of expression” and the right to demonstrate in light of the recent burnings.
Turkey also condemned the “despicable attack” on the Holy Qur’an and urged Denmark to take necessary measures to prevent such a “hate crime” against Islam.
Although Denmark has condemned the burnings as “provocative and shameful acts,” the country acknowledges that it does not possess the authority to prevent non-violent demonstrators from exercising their right to freedom of speech.
University of Copenhagen law Professor Trine Baumbach explained that Danish laws grant people extended freedom of speech during demonstrations, allowing for various forms of expression, including burning items.
The series of the Holy Qur’an burnings in Denmark and Sweden has raised tensions and triggered calls for greater respect for religious sensitivities and protection against hate crimes targeting Islam.
