A landmark trial is underway in Denmark, as two men face possible legal repercussions for “improper treatment of a religious scripture” after they allegedly burned a Quran in public.
The trial is believed to be the first prosecution under a 2023 law widely known as the "Quran Law", which bans the desecration of religious texts.
Should burning religious texts in protest be allowed, or is it necessary to restrict certain speech to respect religious sensitivities and promote safety?
Free Expression on Trial
The trial in question is taking place on the small Danish island of Bornholm, with a population of less than 40,000 people.
The identities of the men are not known, but it’s alleged that in June 2024 they burned a copy of the Quran at a folk festival, and livestreamed the burning on Facebook. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said that the two men did “harm to Denmark and its interests” with the burnings.
But not everyone agrees. Critics of the law say the act of book burning has long been considered a chief example of free expression in the Western world.
The case has opened up dialogue in Denmark (and across Europe) about whether laws like this should exist.
What Are Blasphemy Laws?
Blasphemy laws in Europe have their roots in medieval Christendom, where church and state were closely linked and religious offenses were seen as threats to social order. These laws, originally designed to protect Christian orthodoxy, criminalized speech or actions deemed offensive to religious beliefs, particularly those of the dominant church.
In the Enlightenment era, growing emphasis on individual rights and secular governance began to erode their influence. By the 20th century, many European countries began repealing or weakening such laws, though some – including Ireland, Greece, and Denmark – retained them well into the 21st century.
In fact, it wasn't until 2017 that Denmark officially abolished its blasphemy laws... only to institute the "Quran Law" just years later, which critics contend is simply a blasphemy law by another name. Danish politicians at the time argued that the law was necessary to curb Quran burnings across the country, which were viewed as a national security risk and damaging foreign relations with Muslim-majority countries.
In 2023, a wave of anti-Islam protests overwhelmed Danish police, and more than 500 Quran burnings were recorded that year alone. "Such demonstrations can hurt Denmark's relations to other nations, our interests and ultimately our safety," said Hummelgaard at the time – and half a year later Denmark had this pseudo-blasphemy law back on the books.
Sound like an outlier? Not exactly. Across Europe, other countries are also making it illegal to burn holy texts.
Quran Burnings Stoke Controversy, and Violence
Earlier this year, a UK man was charged with “intent to cause against religious institution of Islam, harassment, alarm or distress” for burning a Quran outside the Turkish embassy in London. The man was reportedly protesting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, but was attacked with a knife by another man. Just weeks before that, a Manchester man was also charged with burning the Quran.
England repealed their blasphemy laws in 2008. But as the National Secular Society put it, any positive conviction of these men would be "the reinstatement of an offense of blasphemy in English law by the back door."
Over in Sweden (which took blasphemy laws off the books in 1970), two men were found guilty of hate crimes for 2023 Quran burnings which caused massive outrage across the country.
The courts said that their burnings "clearly exceeded the bounds of objective debate and criticism," and convicted them of "having expressed contempt for the Muslim ethnic group because of their religious beliefs on four occasions."
In January of this year, one of the men charged, Salwan Momika, was found shot dead in his apartment.
Should Blasphemy Laws Exist?
At the heart of the matter: should certain criticisms of religion be outlawed?
One thing that "Quran laws" make clear: what was once treated as a fundamental – if distasteful – personal right is increasingly being viewed by European governments as a hate crime.
And though the laws have undoubtedly curbed Quran burnings and the violence they may incite, civil rights advocates say this policy could lead down a very slippery slope.
Where do you stand? Is the freedom to burn holy texts necessary for a free society, or is it okay for the law to put guardrails on controversial speech?
9 comments
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Nicholas J Page
Leave all religeous books alone.
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ServantOfJudgement
Most countries can't handle freedom. You can go to jail for saying something mean on Facebook. You'll get executed if you're a woman that wants to work. They'll take you in handcuffs for thinking wrong things. If you defend yourself against lethal force with lethal force you go to jail for 20 years for murder. On and on stupidity rules civilized nations.
As nations become more "civilized" they accumulate law upon law where eventually everyone is a felon as such with USA. In USA every single citizen the age of 18 has committed a felony and continues to do so a couple times each month until they die. No matter how squeaky clean you think you are, you've done lots of bad things to Uncle Sam. Perhaps once AI is fully integrated it will bring us all to justice.
Who cares about burning a book anyway? You want to spend money on a book and burn it, buy 1000 and burn them too. They'll print more from the profits off the burnt books.
Don't we have enough laws and rules already? Besides, burning the Quran isn't like burning a Bible or smut mag. You burn the Quran and some true believer will come along and kill you, as they're commanded to do. Wanna be a fool like that?
You don't need to dig through history to find Islamic brutality, the six o'clock news will do fine. They're happy to help unbelievers by killing them. They help people every day.
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Bruce Kendall
I do not support the probition or the destruction of books. However, I do believe that people should stand up and be responsible for their actions.
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Diane Minna LaFave
We have wars going on; people are dyeing ; No , we shouldn't make burning religious objects a crime , unless those objects belong to someone else [ the same law for destroying other's property now.] . People are starving, being tortured , lost everything in the Countries that are at war. God is in control . He has many putting great effort into lasting peace and prosperity . What we can do is get past the hate , understand that God IS in control. Those that have done horrendous deeds Will be punished in God's time and His way. Thus, we are set free to let go of the hate and embrace the joy of happiness. God Bless the U.S.A. , President Trump and the many that are striving to make a better World.
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John W
Not a fan of book burning period, be it a religious text, work of literature, picture book, magazines or whatever. Personal opinion is that it is a mob mentality wasted act of meaningless aggression akin to censorship. Actions such as this actually give reason for those whom the action is against to say that they are the victim and not the aggressor in most all instances of protest burning.
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Rev. BH
Well said, John.
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papawterry
NO!
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Dan Anderson
Is it illegal to burn the Bible, the Torah, the Bahavad Gita?
The laws still exist that says if one has the intent of threatening another/group, it would be illegal. The first amendment does not apply.
I do not subscribe to the actual "destruction" of books. Especially children's books, at a time when children are so poorly socialized and have fewer social skills than their grandparents did thanks to tech and social media (the more recent dopamine studies are quite concerning.)
Burning books is tantamount to everything the nazi's did, right wingers do now (and always did) and there are a lot of other episodes through history: we will never recover what was lost when the Library of Alexandria Egypt and other such places were destroyed forever several millennia past.
I do admit to turning books by politicians I don't like around in the book stacks, or hiding them in the library someplace quiet but accessible. It still needs to be there, unrestricted, maybe just now in the "self help" section... but I won't burn or destroy it.
Well maybe the occasional moustache, beard, hairy chest or "package" subtly enhanced, etc. if someone is particularly in need of a better photo shoot.
It could help sell the product.
In this current era, and working (non-teaching staff) in a school, I am sensitive to efforts to indoctrinate children in this or that area by banning "this or that." Politicians who find such issues expedient... and their radical rag tag religious constituents dangling off their banners have been making a mess everywhere for years.
Jesus never said to burn books... but then he couldn't read or write, either. He flipped a table in a temple where people were paying for what was the equivalent of "indulgences," and , well you know what happens when one upsets Wall Street.
So...
Don't like it? Don't read it. Don't read it to your kids. At home. But there is a bigger world out there, and you better hope you can handle your kids' questions, and don't be surprised if they don't agree but deal with it better than you do. Because it's not going away.
Peace, Out...tk