Denmark Considers Legal Steps to Stop Koran Burning Protests

Illustration of protests against the burning of the Qur'an. (Wikimedia Commons/Tasnim News Agency/Mighdad Madadi)

JAKARTA - The Danish government on Sunday said security concerns raised in reaction to the burning of the Koran prompted it to explore legal ways to stop protests involving blasphemy in certain situations.

The government said such protests were playing into the hands of extremists and it wanted to "explore" intervention in situations where "other nations, cultures and religions are insulted, which could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least in terms of security".

"Of course this must be done within the framework of freedom of expression protected by the constitution, in a way that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has a very wide scope," the Danish government explained, as reported by The National News 31 July.

The government further stressed that freedom of expression is still one of the country's most important values.

The protests, which were followed by the desecration of the Koran, increased diplomatic tensions across the Middle East, Denmark and Sweden.

The Danish government said the protests had "reached a level where Denmark, in many parts of the world on different continents, is seen as a country that facilitates the humiliation and desecration of other countries' cultures, religions and traditions."

It said the "main purpose" of some of the actions was to provoke and "could have significant consequences".

It is known, the diplomatic envoys of Denmark and Sweden have been summoned in several Middle Eastern countries.

Separately, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he had been in close contact with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, saying a similar process was already underway in Sweden.

"We have also started to analyze the legal situation... to consider measures to strengthen our national security and the security of Swedish citizens in Sweden and around the world," PM Kristersson said in an Instagram post.

Last Thursday, the Swedish government ordered 15 government agencies - including the armed forces, law enforcement and tax agencies - to strengthen the country's ability to prevent terrorism in response to the deteriorating security situation.

The announcement came a day after the government said the country had been the target of a disinformation campaign.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday urged Sweden to take concrete steps to prevent the burning of the Koran, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.

In a phone call, Foreign Minister Fidan told Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom the continuation of "abominable acts" under the guise of freedom of expression was unacceptable, the sources said.

In addition, Foreign Minister Fidan and Foreign Minister Billstrom also discussed Sweden's application for membership of the NATO military alliance, the sources said.