Denmark Investigating Legal Solutions to Prevent Quran Burning

The Danish government is investigating "a legal tool" that would allow authorities to stop demonstrators from setting fire to the Muslim holy book, the Quran, outside embassies in the Nordic nation.

The government is researching its options for intervening to stop such crimes, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who spoke to the national TV DR on Sunday.

The announcement comes after rallies against the destruction of the Quran were organized in Sweden and Denmark in recent weeks.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has its headquarters in Jeddah, has been urged by Saudi Arabia and Iraq to meet on Monday to discuss Quran blasphemy in both Nordic nations. Several Muslim countries have also started boycotting Swedish goods.

Denmark and Sweden have both deplored the burning of the holy book of Islam. Yet, they stressed their hands were tied against the Nordic countries' rules protecting free speech.

In a statement on Sunday, Rasmussen said the government was studying the scope for intervention "in special situations where, for instance, other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not least with regard to security."

"The burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by few individuals. These few individuals do not represent the values the Danish society is built on," he said.

Rasmussen stressed that any measure taken would fall "within the framework of the constitutionally protected freedom of expression and in a manner that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has very broad scope."

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Ulf Kristersson said on Sunday that he held talks with Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, where both leaders agreed the situation was dangerous.

"We need to take measures to strengthen our resilience," Kristenrsson said in a post on Instagram. "Ultimately it is about defending our free and open societies, our democracy and our citizens' right to freedom and security."

For Sweden, whose application to join NATO had been delayed by Turkey for almost a year due to claims that it was harboring terrorists, the outcry over the destruction of the Quran has presented significant difficulties. Turkey has frequently been among the vocal opponents of Quran burning.

According to a report by the Reuters news agency quoting a source within the foreign ministry, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, requested Stockholm to take immediate action to stop Quran burnings on Sunday. Fidan talked on the phone with Tobias Billstrom of Sweden, with whom he also addressed Sweden's potential NATO membership.

Earlier this month, the Swedish government said it would look into the possibility of amending the Public Order Act in a manner which makes it possible for the police to stop demonstrations which threaten the country's security.

Source: Deutsche Welle