Denmark’s government on Sunday said that it would explore legal means of stopping protests involving the burning of holy texts in certain circumstances, referring to security concerns after backlash over protests involving burnings and desecrations of the Quran in Denmark and Sweden. The country's foreign ministry noted that such protests played into the hands of extremists, and said that it wants “explore” intervening in situations where “other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security.”
In a statement, the foreign ministry mentioned that the country is "currently facing a situation where the burnings of the holy Quran in Denmark have reached a level where Denmark, in many parts of the world across continents, is being viewed as a country that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of other countries."
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"15 governments have issued condemnations of Denmark. Our ambassadors have been summoned for discussions. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is meeting on Monday in response to the burnings of the holy Quran in Denmark and Sweden," it noted.
As per the ministry some of the actions witnessed have had as their primary purpose to "insult and provoke reactions in and from other countries", which could have significant consequences, it said.
"Consequences that fundamentally harm Denmark and the interests of like-minded nations. It could also have major security implications in Denmark," the statement noted.
The Danish government stressed that it has clearly distanced itself from and condemned the burnings of the holy book. "The burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals. These few individuals do not represent the values the Danish society is built on," it emphasised.
The government noted how these actions play into "the hands of extremists," who "sow division at a time when we need to stand together, and they benefit the countries that want to drive a wedge between the West and the Global South."
"The Danish government will therefore explore the possibility of intervening in special situations where, for instance, other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security," the foreign ministry announced.
The government said that its intervention will be brought within the framework of the constitutionally protected freedom of expression and "in a manner that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has very broad scope."
The statement comes after a small group of anti-Islam activists set fire to Korans in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen, news agency Reuters reported.
Six Quran burnings were planned to be held in Copenhagen this Friday, with one held directly across from a mosque where Friday prayers were in progress, as per reports.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday urged Denmark to take urgent action during a phone call with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Fidan condemned the "continuous vile attacks against the Koran", Reuters reported.
He further told Rasmussen that it was unacceptable to allow such actions under the guise of freedom of expression, Reuters reported a source as saying.
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