(203) 29. Atheist Republic Newsletter: Has Denmark Fallen to Islamism? Danish Parliament Bans Quran Burnings.

 

Denmark's recent legislative move to ban Quran burnings has garnered attention in the wake of the widespread protests and security concerns stemming from previous incidents in Denmark and neighboring Sweden. The bill, passed on December 7th with 94 votes in favor, prohibits the public mistreatment of holy texts, including the Quran, with penalties ranging from fines to a maximum of two years in prison. The Danish Ministry of Justice stated that the aim is to counter the perceived "systematic mockery" contributing to an escalating terrorism threat. Notably, the bill had its critics, including Inger Stojberg, leader of the Denmark Democrats party, who expressed concern about the impact on freedom of speech. Stojberg's quote, “History will judge us harshly for this and with good reason. … What it all comes down to is whether a restriction on freedom of speech is determined by us or whether it is dictated from the outside,” highlights the debate around balancing freedom of expression and national security. Critics argue that such restrictions might undermine hard-won liberal freedoms, while Denmark's ruling centrist coalition maintains that the bill will have only a marginal impact on freedom of speech. Meanwhile, Sweden is exploring a different approach to address Quran burnings while safeguarding freedom of expression, considering the possibility of allowing the Swedish police to reject protest applications based on national security.

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