Danish Parliament Passes Bill On The Prohibition Of Al-Quran Burning

ILLUSTRATION OF DOCUMENTATION BETWEEN PHOTOS/SIGID KURNIAWAN)

JAKARTA - Denmark passed a bill prohibiting the burning of the Quran from preventing Islamophobic protests aimed at offending Muslims.

After a heated debate among lawmakers, the bill was finally passed after receiving 94 votes from 179 lawmakers. Meanwhile, 77 others refused.

The bill prohibits burning, tearing, or defamation of holy texts in public or online. The bill also prohibits the widespread spread of these actions.

Violators can face the risk of a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.

Although the three-party coalition government voted in favor of the bill, no coalition members defended themselves and responded to opposition criticism during a debate in parliament.

The Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre) is the only opposition party to vote for the bill.

The bill was first introduced in August, but was later amended due to concerns arising in the ruling coalition over freedom of expression.

The bill will become a law after Queen Margre, ruler of the Kingdom of Denmark, gave her official approval. The Queen is expected to give the approval by the end of this month.

Denmark's Ministry of Justice said in a statement that the law aims to combat a systematic insult, which raises the level of terror threats in Denmark.

"We have to protect the security of Denmark and the Danish people," said Justice Minister Petertengaard.

"That's why it's important for us now to get better protection against systemic blasphemy that we've seen for a long time," he added.

Earlier in August, members of the Danske Patrioter ultranationalist group burned the Al Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen.

The demonstrators shouted anti-Islamic slogans in provocative actions carried out under police protection.