HELSINKI — Denmark’s international minister stated Sunday the federal government will search to make it unlawful to desecrate the Quran or different spiritual holy books in entrance of international embassies within the Nordic nation.
Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated in an interview with the Danish public broadcaster DR that the burning of holy scriptures “solely serves the aim of making division in a world that really wants unity.”
“That’s the reason we now have determined within the authorities that we are going to have a look at how, in very particular conditions, we are able to put an finish to mockery of different international locations, which is in direct battle with Danish pursuits and the protection 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 Cupboard of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is set to seek out “a authorized instrument” to ban such acts with out compromising freedom of expression, however he acknowledged that might not be simple.
“There have to be room for spiritual criticism, and we now have no ideas of reintroducing a blasphemy clause,” he informed DR. “However whenever you get up in entrance of a international embassy and burn a Quran or burn the Torah scroll in entrance of the Israeli embassy, it serves no different objective than to mock.”
His feedback adopted an announcement issued late Sunday by the Danish authorities saying freedom of expression is likely one of the most necessary values in Danish society.
However, it added, the descreation of the Muslim holy ebook in Denmark has resulted within the nation being considered in lots of locations around the globe “as a rustic that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of different international locations.”
The federal government repeated its condemnation of such descecrations, say they’re “deeply offensive and reckless acts dedicated by few people” and “don’t characterize the values the Danish society is constructed on.”
In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated Sunday on Instagram that his authorities is analyzing the authorized state of affairs relating to desecration of the Quran and different holy books, given the animosity such acts are stirring up in opposition to Sweden.
“We’re in probably the most severe safety coverage state of affairs because the Second World Battle,” Kristersson stated.
The Group of Islamic Cooperation has known as an emergency distant assembly Monday to debate the Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark.