Denmark Outlaws Quran Burnings for National Security
The Danish legislature has implemented a prohibition on Quran burnings, citing public safety. The Justice Minister, Peter Hummelgaard, stated the decision prioritizes the well-being of Danish citizens and the nation's stability.
Recent demonstrations involving over 500 instances of Quran and flag burnings were reported since July, triggering widespread negative reactions toward Denmark. The newly introduced legislation criminalizes such acts, with offenders risking up to two years of imprisonment. The bill garnered the support of 94 members of parliament while 77 voted against it.
Rasmus Paludan, a provocative figure from Denmark's right-wing Hard Line party, has been central to these controversies through his Quran-burning demonstrations in Scandinavian cities.
Recently, it was discovered that Russian operative Chang Frick, affiliated with the Kremlin-supported RT network, financed Paludan's act of burning the Quran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Finnish intelligence has indicated Russia's role in inciting anti-Islam protests, aiming to disrupt Finland and Sweden's efforts to join NATO.
The EU condemned the Quran burnings after they provoked violent responses in Muslim countries such as Iraq, where a Swedish embassy faced unrest due to a scheduled Quran burning incident.
As a consequence of similar actions, Sweden has faced severe repercussions, including a fatal terror attack on Swedish tourists in Brussels, believed to be a targeted assault by Islamists against Swedish visitors for a football event.