Denmark Takes Action to Criminalize Quran Burnings

The Danish government is proposing legislation to make it illegal to burn copies of the Koran in public places, in an effort to de-escalate tensions with Muslim countries. Recent protests in Denmark and Sweden, where copies of the Koran were burned or damaged, have sparked outrage in Muslim nations. The proposed law would also prohibit the inappropriate handling of religious objects such as the Bible or Torah. The government rejects claims that the ban would infringe on free speech, stating that there are more civilized ways to express one's views. Breaking the law would result in fines or up to two years in prison. Sweden is also examining ways to legally limit Koran desecrations.