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Majority in Danish Parliament adopts ban on Quran burnings: We must protect the security of Danes

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

8.12.2023
News from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

On December 7th, a majority in the Danish Parliament (Social Democrats, Liberals, Moderates, Social Liberals and Jon Stephensen) adopted a bill, which will criminalise improper treatment of scriptures of significant religious importance to a recognised religious community. The bill was introduced in response to the systematic insulting and denigrating actions that have taken place since summer 2023 and that have, among other things, contributed to increasing the terrorist threat against Denmark.

The Danish National Police reports that during the period from 21 July to 28 November 2023, 528 demonstrations involving burnings of books or flags have been registered.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) has stated that the recent Quran burnings have impacted the current threat level and that the terrorist threat against Denmark has increased from an already high level. Meanwhile, an attack on Swedish football fans occurred in Brussels in October. The Belgian authorities assess that the perpetrator was motivated by Quran burnings, but the Belgian authorities also assess it is likely that the current events in the conflict between Israel and Gaza influenced him.

The Danish Parliament today adopted a bill that criminalises the improper treatment of scriptures of significant religious importance to a recognised religious community. The law will be evaluated after a three-year period.

Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard says:

"We have seen an attack in Belgium, where the authorities assess that the perpetrator was in part motivated by Quran burnings. We know that the threat of terrorism against Denmark has increased from an already high level. We must protect the security of Denmark and the Danes. Therefore, it is important that we will now have better protection against the systematic insulting and denigrating actions that have been ongoing for a long time."

Read the full text of the bill here (In Danish).

About the bill

The bill was introduced for public consultation in August 2023. Following the consultation period, the Danish Government adjusted the bill in a number of respects. Among other things, the scope of the bill was narrowed to improper treatment of scriptures of significant religious importance to a recognised religious community. It was also written into the bill's explanatory notes that works of art in which the improper treatment is a minor part of a larger work will not be covered by the ban. The bill was introduced in the Danish Parliament on 27 October 2023 and was adopted today.