Denmark passes legislation criminalizing Islamophobic Koran-burning protests

Denmark passed legislation criminalizing Islamophobic Koran-burning protests. After a fierce debate among lawmakers, the bill was passed by 94 votes to 77 in the 179-member Danish parliament. The bill makes it illegal to burn, tear or desecrate sacred texts in public or on the Internet to distribute them widely. Violators can risk a fine or imprisonment of up to two years, foreign media write. 

While the three-party coalition government voted in favor of the bill, no member of the coalition stood to respond to opposition criticism during the debate in parliament. The Social Liberals (Radikale Venstre) was the only opposition party that voted for the bill.

The bill was first introduced in August but was later amended due to concerns raised within the ruling coalition about freedom of speech. The bill will become law after the official signature of the Danish monarch, Queen Margre, who is expected to sign it later this month.

The Danish Ministry of Justice said in a statement that the law aims to combat "systematic mockery", which increases the level of terrorist threats in Denmark.

"We must protect the security of Denmark and the Danes," said Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard, adding, "That is why it is important that we now have better protection against the systematic desecrations we have seen for a long time. "

Earlier in August, members of the ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter, or Danish Patriots, burned a copy of the Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen. The perpetrators chanted anti-Islam slogans during the provocative act, which was carried out under police protection. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in response to the Islamophobic protests, said that Turkey will never give in to provocations or threats. 

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