Two protesters burn Quran outside Iraqi embassy in Denmark
Al JazeeraAug 02, 2023
The Facts
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Sunday that the government will try to find legal means to prevent the burning of copies of the Quran, and other religious scriptures, in front of countries’ embassies in Denmark.
Quran burnings are legal in Denmark and Sweden under current protest laws. Recently, a Danish far-right group — the "Danish patriots" — organized two burnings before the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen, sparking diplomatic rows with Turkey and condemnation by EU officials.
The Spin
Left narrative
Desecration of holy texts isn't free speech; it's hate speech. All these acts seek to do is provoke Muslims in Europe and outside of it, and such actions have no place in a "free" society. Bigotry only makes the world worse and stimulates hatred, serving the agendas of extremists and contributing to the goals of their malevolent ideologies.
Right narrative
Though the intentional desecration of a holy text is certainly an unsavory act, there's a reason Europe doesn't possess blasphemy laws; to facilitate a free society. Legislation that would threaten said freedom of expression is a slippery slope that inadvertently demeans Muslims by singling them out as a community that requires special protection from free, open discourse.
