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?
58 comments
-
Clayton Lee Pratt
If a person buys a book or comes to ownership in whatever manner, it should be their book to do with as they please. Ultimately, if people would just act like adults, just walk away without any emotions over it, people wouldn't waste their time, money and energy on it. They do it for the reaction, stop reacting end of problem. I think it's funny that people find it offensive. It only effects me if I choose to allow it.
-
Daniel Mears
I think all people should respect the religious writings of various religions including the Koran, Bible and other religious texts. Otherwise you just create more hostility which reaps it's own reward...
-
Tommy Edward Merritt
Absolutely not. It's a book written by who knows. It's a disgusting book.at that. Rape, genocide, how to beat ur slaves, cursing generations to come. Complete trash. The new testament is no better, Jesus is like Charlie Manson, a wanna be prophet and healer, nothing more. Religious text can't be verified therefore they shouldn't have any protection. Books have been banned for mentioning two moms or dads, yet this horrible vile book escaped the purge.
-
Cameron Lewis
A book is a book...period. Burn it, piss on it, wipe you ass with its pages, it is still paper and ink. I hate book burning. I hate the concept of removal of thought and concept. I hate having a book held as holy words even more...get over it's just paper.
-
James Riggle-Johnson
I believe that book burning is wrong in general but making it illegal stops free expression. When done with the intent of threatening individuals or specific locations. For instance, burning a Quran outside the Turkish embassy or in front of a Muslim’s home is not just an act of protest; it’s a direct threat to those people and their beliefs. Such targeted actions should be illegal and come with consequences, as they promote hostility and can incite violence. Balancing the right to free speech while maintaining safety and respect should be the point. That’s just my opinion.
-
Susan Christine Giganti
Well one one hand , it’s a book. Because people believe the book contains teaching from their belief system, they don’t want it burned. On the other hand , burning books because you don’t like them is stupid. Maybe all book burnings should be a crime.
-
KING JAMES I of The Empire of Dunlap
Over here in these parts, we say;
"So be it, as long they burn it in a pit, and don't damage anything else. We won't stop our faith because you wanted to buy our products, our texts, and then destroy them. They bought it! And, they bought it from us; Now what?"
In the highest prayer we say "HHEME'J" / "OHO"
-
Walter J. Holbrook
My how we have fallen in God's eyes
-
Walter J. Holbrook
My how we have fallen
-
Walter J. Holbrook
My how we have fallen
-
Walter J. Holbrook
My how we have fallen
-
Bradley wayne King
By accepting everything that goes against our faith. There is no integrity of our people when obedience is taught to be abuse. Everything good about faith in God has been undermined by people who think there is no God.
-
-
Bradley wayne King
Religious texts should not be burned....Unless they call for the death of those who believe differently..
-
Kevin Joseph Kervick
The fascist German authorities are trying to ban Alternatives Fur Deutschland and jail their members in a stunning display of authoritarianism. The rationale is essentially Blasphemy against the state religion.
-
David M Hines
If you buy it you can dispose of it as you like subject to local laws concerning arson, illegal burning, air pollution and the like. This also applies to flags, etc. You buy it, you’re free to break it.
-
Roy S. Thorpe
Burning anything to incite a group is illegal! A fine,not imprisonment is the answer! Imprisonment only incites more!
-
Roy S. Thorpe
Burning anything to incite a group is illegal! A fine,not imprisonment is the answer! Imprisonment only incites more!
-
Jon David Schoen
Remember that this is not being prosecuted under United States law so the 1st amendment does not apply. Although we may find it outrageous and offensive (I certainly do), under the concept of free speech we don't just protect the speech we agree with or that pleases us. We must protect, with equal passion, the speech that offends us and that we disagree with. As someone else said in a previous post, it does not matter whether it is a Bible, a Torah, a Book of Mormon or the Quran, as religious texts they must be considered equal under freedom of speech.
-
Steven Kaszab
Burning any book is wrong. Religious or not. People's reasons for burning something like literature or sacred books lie in their wish to make a statement or censor something. Peaceful ways should be approached. Burning something for censorship sake is an act of violence, and that is against the law right?
Steven Kaszab( Franciscan) Bradford, Ontario
-
Mrknowitall
I bought one Koran while searching for God's word, afterwards I bought another thinking I'm reading errors in translation or transmission, I wasn't. I then burned the books so that no one could get a hold of such evil and possibly believe it. You try to arrest me for that I'll kill you.
-
Rev. BH
Arrests are done by police. Killing them is not a good idea.
-
-
Michael Bernard Wolf
Freedom is the ability to persevere in being allowed to live as one wants to live without fear of repercussion's as long as the way they live is in a legal and not criminal way. Freedom also can test people's patients as many people, myself included, hate to see someone burn our American flag, but when living in a free society we have to understand the rights of all, even if we don't agree because freedom is for EVERYONE, or the word means nothing. Now having said that, I feel the burning of books is wrong, especially ones that inspire people in their faiths for when people do this it is tantamount to insulting people's faiths and beliefs and when one does that they are being insulting to one's freedoms of religion. Should religious book burning be a crime? I can't, say because if in America it is okay to burn the flag on personal beliefs and freedoms, then how can we say you can't burn a book. I don't agree with the burning of religious books or the flag, but maybe that is the price we pay for living in a free society.
-
Robin Anne Hannon
If you don't like the Quran, don't read it. Book burning should not be condoned. Some brought up blasphemy as an excuse. There are many things that have been done in God's name that are heinous and have zero to do with God at all. Perhaps the act of hate is a form of blasphemy in and of itself. It reminds me of the scripture, "Depart from me ye who work iniquity. I never knew you."
-
Douglas Robert Spindler
Should It Be Illegal to Burn the Quran? Yes, Bible no. Many people in the US burn their bibles as a way of healing from all the harm the Christian religion has caused them.
-
ServantOfJudgement
Nick Berg was the first person I ever saw get his head cut off by Quran readers. It was pretty strange to see. Mr Berg didn't know they were about to cut his head off because they'd practiced it so much, his panic and fear had left. He thought it another rehearsal. Only when the dull knife entered the tender flesh of his neck did Nick Berg realize the Quran readers were cutting his head off. With tied hand he struggled. They put his head on his chest for the camera.
Since then I've seen enough Quran readers cut people's heads off to trust it.
Douglas. What I would say to you next would get this post blocked. It's would be true but too harsh for your sensitive glazed over eyes. You're quite blind and have much to learn young one.
-
Patricia Ann Gross
SOJ, This is not something that is practiced by the everyday Muslim, but an extremist right-wing group. There are deadly edicts in The Bible too. Don't believe it? Just read Leviticus. Children that talk back to their parents, women who have sex out of wedlock, and other things that would be considered atrocities today. Just because it is in a sacred text does not mean everybody practices what is in there.
-
-
Rev. BH
Douglas R. Spinner. "Many people in the US burn their bibles as a way of healing from all the harm the Christian religion has caused them." They do? Never heard of such a thing. Haven't even heard of much bible burning at all lately. Have you?
Burning the Quran is okay? But not the bible? Why's that? How about the Talmud, Torah, Vedas ... which of these shall we burn?
-
-
Matthew Mastrogiovanni
If books can be banned (never done by the good guys, by the way), then books can be burned.
-
Daniel Todd Kamm
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
-
Nicholas J Page
Leave all religeous books alone.
-
Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Why? There’s nothing special about religious books.
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Play? Comments like that make me wanna go find a religious book and burn it.
I have a Bible upstairs. I’ve had it since I was about six years old or so. Kind of on the smaller side and it has a zipper that closes it up. Also has a picture of the Jewish zombie doing something with a multitude or a lamb or something like that on the front. It’s in a dusty box with some other childhood memorabilia. If I want to burn it, it will be burnt. And probably when I die, it will be burnt. If that upsets you, well, go pound sand.
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
See? Comments like that make me wanna go find a religious book and burn it.
I have a Bible upstairs. I’ve had it since I was about six years old or so. Kind of on the smaller side and it has a zipper that closes it up. Also has a picture of the Jewish zombie doing something with a multitude or a lamb or something like that on the front. It’s in a dusty box with some other childhood memorabilia. If I want to burn it, it will be burnt. And probably when I die, it will be burnt. If that upsets you, well, go pound sand.
-
-
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.
-
Dan Anderson
Most countries LOVE freedom and operate in that manner.
-
Ronaldo
I'm a US citizen born and raised here. I'm in my mid-70s and never committed a felony. If you think otherwise, present your proof. Thanks.
-
Minister Rob
rds to "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." Do pray tell what those "felonies" are!!! I'll wait...... I'm with Ronaldo on that one! I have a CA CCW and studies have shown that your average CCW holder commits LESS crime than the POLICE!!!
But on the "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." statement I do agree!
Now if I want to buy a quran and burn it, I will!
-
-
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.
-
Patricia Ann Gross
I agree to a point, but just want to clarify: You think they should be accountable for theft and destruction of someone else's property, and nothing more? How, then, do you put a "value" on a sacred text?
-
Rev. BH
Unless it's a rare ancient edition, the "value" of one out of a million holy books is negligible. If I buy one and burn it I see no problem. If I grab yours or swipe it from a library that's another matter entirely. It's not the perceived holiness, it's the ownership. Steal my favorite Stephen King hardcover and burn it, the burning part is not illegal, the stealing part is.
-
-
-
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.
-
Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
If god is in control why does he stand by as babies are being sexually molested?
-
ServantOfJudgement
He lets mothers cut babies from the womb too. He lets parents replace their son's penis with a dead hole. He lets lions eat giraffe, earthquakes swallow towns and presidents send boys to death in wars over dirt they'll never set foot on.
It's got something to do with testing human character. Beyond that your guess is as good as mine lady.
He lets us see and feel love, know what trust is and let's us cry too.
Definitely something to do with our character.
-
Minister-Brian Tuck
It has a lot to do with free will. Put do thing to other people cause they can. God doesn’t do free will. Somewhere in our heart we should know what is right and wrong, but some people they don’t think that far.
-
Rev. BH
SoJ, once again a delightful first two sentences! Your concern with perversities always brightens our blog!
-
-
Benton Wade Standard
Because apparently it's part of some grand plan or some other nonsense someone might say.
-
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Agree with about the first half. Second half is delusional nonsense.
-
-
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.
-
Rev. BH
Well said, John.
-
Benton Wade Standard
While book burning of any kind is moronic it should be allowed.
-
-
papawterry
NO!
-
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.
-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
This isn’t threatening another group. It’s sending a message that you absolutely positively have no respect for religiously delusional beliefs. Back in the 60s, the religiously delusional were burning records because they thought it was Satan’s music. That’s cool. It’s dumb as a sack of rocks but, it’s cool.
By the way, the Beatles were more popular than God.
-
Benton Wade Standard
😂
-
-
Patricia Ann Gross
Only this is Denmark, not the US, so unless Trump has annexed Denmark overnight, you're right the first amendmant does not apply, simply because this is not in the US, not because it is covered there. If you look at the laws in the US, Quran burning could be considered "terroristic treatening" much like burning a cross in front of a predominatly Black Church would be here. It is a shame the practice has gotten to the point that countries have had to enact laws to protect those that practice a minority religion. Hate crimes by any other name are still hate crimes, and persecuting or fearmongering those that believe differently is, by definition, a hate crime.
-
Benton Wade Standard
Except hate crimes against white people are rarely classified as such. It's biased but no one wants to admit it. It's similar when Christians are targeted. It's not deemed as big of a deal if other religious groups are targeted. That's not always the case especially in the Bible Belt. In those areas there's often bigotry in favor of Christians over other groups. Either way no group whether it's based on religion, ethnicity, gender, and whatever else should be given special consideration and privileges.
-
Patricia Ann Gross
Hate crimes are hate crimes. This is religious-centric hate, not racial. Hate crimes most of the time are against minority populations by the a member of the majority/culturally dominant of that same attribute (race, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc.)
-
-
-
In the United States we are protected under the First Amendment, to religious freedom, and speech. It is our right to do as we please. It may not be morally correct to burn another religion's text. But it is not up to the government to rule in these matters. It is between you and your beliefs.