COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s parliament passed a new law on Thursday that criminalizes the desecration of any holy text in the country. The move follows recent incidents where anti-Islam activists publicly desecrated the Quran, leading to protests in Muslim countries.
Denmark, previously criticized abroad for allowing insults against cultures and religions, aims to address what it sees as “systematic mockery” contributing to an increased terrorism threat. The Justice Ministry emphasizes the need to protect Denmark’s security and its citizens.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stated, “We must protect the security of Denmark and Danes. That is why it is important that we now get better protection against the systematic desecrations we have seen for a long time.”
The law, adopted with a 94-77 vote in the Folketing (parliament), makes it a criminal offense to inappropriately treat, publicly or with the intention of wider dissemination, any writing with significant religious importance or an object appearing as such. However, the ban does not apply to works of art where a minor part includes desecration within a larger artistic production.
The move reflects Denmark’s attempt to strike a balance between freedom of expression and protecting religious sentiments, acknowledging the potential consequences of such actions on national security.
