Denmark seeks to legally forestall burnings of Quran or different non secular scriptures

HELSINKI — Denmark’s international minister stated Sunday the federal government will search to make it unlawful to desecrate the Quran or different non secular holy books in entrance of international embassies within the Nordic nation.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated in an interview with the Danish public broadcaster DR that the burning of holy scriptures “only serves the purpose of creating division in a world that actually needs unity.”

“That is why we have decided in the government that we will look at how, in very special situations, we can put an end to mockery of other countries, which is in direct conflict with Danish interests and the safety of the Danes,” he stated.

A latest string of public Quran desecrations by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Denmark and neighboring Sweden have sparked indignant demonstrations in Muslim international locations.

Løkke Rasmussen stated the Cabinet of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is decided to search out “a legal tool” to ban such acts with out compromising freedom of expression, however he acknowledged that will not be straightforward.

“There must be room for religious criticism, and we have no thoughts of reintroducing a blasphemy clause,” he advised DR. “But when you stand up in front of a foreign embassy and burn a Quran or burn the Torah scroll in front of the Israeli embassy, ​​it serves no other purpose than to mock.”

His feedback adopted an announcement issued late Sunday by the Danish authorities saying freedom of expression is among the most essential values in Danish society.

But, it added, the desecration of the Muslim holy guide in Denmark has resulted within the nation being considered in lots of locations world wide “as a country that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of other countries.”

The authorities repeated its condemnation of such desecrations, say they’re “deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals” and “do not represent the values the Danish society is built on.”

In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated Sunday on Instagram that his authorities is analyzing the authorized state of affairs concerning desecration of the Quran and different holy books, given the animosity such acts are stirring up towards Sweden.

“We are in the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War,” Kristersson stated.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has referred to as an emergency distant assembly Monday to debate the Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.