Danish Government Proposes Law to Ban Public Burning of the Quran

The Danish government announced today, Friday, that it will propose legislation that criminalizes the public burning of copies of the Quran, as part of the North European country's efforts to ease rising tensions with several Islamic countries. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stated at a press conference: "The government will propose legislation that prohibits the improper treatment of any symbols of significance to any religious denomination." He added, "The proposal will make, for example, the public burning of copies of the Quran, the Bible, or the Torah an act that warrants punishment." In recent weeks, Denmark and Sweden have witnessed several incidents involving the burning or destruction of copies of the Quran, provoking anger in Islamic countries that have called on the governments of both nations to prohibit such acts.