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Rabat – Denmark’s parliament passed a law on Thursday making it illegal to burn the Quran in public places, after several incidents where far-right activists burned the holy book sparked widespread criticism in the Muslim community.
Along with Sweden, Denmark witnessed a series of protests this year after Islamophobic figures burned or damaged copies of the Quran, with protesters demanding that Nordic governments ban the practice.
The proposal received 94 votes for and 77 against and comes in the interest of de-escalating tensions with Islamic countries following the hateful acts.
The new law will make the act of burning the holy book punishable by fines or up to two years in prison, with the centrist coalition arguing it will have only a marginal impact on free speech and that criticizing religion remains legal.
Read also: UN Adopts Morocco-Presented Resolution Against Burning of Quran, Hate Speech
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said that more than 500 demonstrations that included burnings of the Quran and flags with Islamic significance were registered since July.
“Such demonstrations can hurt Denmark’s relations to other nations, our interests and ultimately our safety,” he said.
The Islamophobic displays have also attracted security concerns, with fears that they could attract attacks by Islamists.
Sweden is also considering how to prevent similar displays of Islamophobia, with Reuters reporting that they are looking into taking national security concerns into account when approving protests.
