STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN: More Qur’an desecration incidents took place in Sweden and Denmark on Monday, while the governments of the two countries said they were seeking ways to legally limit such actions in a bid to de-escalate growing tensions with many Muslim countries.
Both Nordic countries have witnessed several protests in recent weeks where copies of the Holy Qur’an have been desecrated, damaged, and disrespected, prompting anger in Muslim nations, which have demanded the two governments put a stop to the disappointing burnings.
The Danish government said in a statement on Sunday that it would seek to find a legal option that could allow authorities to intervene in such protests, if deemed to entail considerable negative consequences for the country, according to media reports.
The Holy Qur’an burnings again took place in both countries on Monday. In Stockholm an Iraqi refugee behind several protests in recent weeks appeared to desecrate a copy of the Holy Qur’an outside the Swedish parliament. In Denmark, anti-Muslim protesters desecrated the Holy Qur’an outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Copenhagen, with several more protests planned for later in the day.
The Nordic nations have deplored the desecration of the Holy Qur’an but cannot prevent it under constitutional laws protecting “freedom of speech”.
However, authorities in both states have now said they are seeking for legal changes that would allow authorities to prevent further Qur’an desecrations in special situations.
The Swedish government said this month it is consdering a similar solution but right-wing parties in both states have criticized the initiatives, with some arguing freedom of speech cannot be compromised.
Swedish government sends letters
Tobias Billstrom, Swedish Foreign Minister, said on Monday that he had sent letters to all fifty-seven nations in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to explain Sweden’s right to assembly and condemned islamophobic acts.
OIC foreign ministers will meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the recent developments.
