The Danish Patriot Group Has Again Burned the Koran, This Time in Front of the Turkish and Egyptian Embassies

JAKARTA - A small group of anti-Islam activists burned the Koran in front of the Egyptian and Turkish Embassies in Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday after similar protests in that country and Sweden recently, sparking anger among Muslims.

Tuesday's demonstration in Copenhagen by a group called "Patriot Denmark", followed the group's burning of Korans on Monday and last week in front of the Iraqi embassy.

Denmark condemned the arson as a "provocative and shameful act", but said it lacked the power to deter demonstrators without violence.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Tuesday he had "constructive telephone conversations" with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Husein regarding bilateral relations between the two countries as well as the burning of the Koran.

"Reiterating DK's condemnation of the shameful acts committed by a few individuals. Stressing that all protests must remain peaceful," he wrote on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, reported by Reuters on July 25.

Turkey on Monday said it strongly condemns what it called a "despicable attack" against the Koran, calling on Denmark to take the necessary steps to prevent "hate crimes" against Islam.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Monday asked the authorities of European Union countries, to "urgently reconsider the so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate", in relation to the burning of the Koran.

"People benefit from expanded freedom of speech when they demonstrate," University of Copenhagen law professor Trine Baumbach told Reuters, explaining the law in Denmark.

"This does not only include verbal expression. People can express themselves in many ways, such as through burning things," he said.