EXPLAINER: Why are Sweden and Denmark having a crisis over the Koran?

Record ID: 1736481

  • Title: EXPLAINER: Why are Sweden and Denmark having a crisis over the Koran?
  • Date: 3rd August 2023
  • Summary: In Sweden, an atheist Iraqi refugee who obtained temporary residency in 2021 has said he is burning the Koran as a protest against Islam. He wants the Koran banned. In Denmark, it is far-right protesters who are burning the Muslim holy book. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (RECENT - JULY 20, 2023) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATOR PICKING UP BOOK THEY SAID WAS THE KORAN AND PRINTOUT OF THE IRAQI FLAG AT THE BEGINNING OF DEMONSTRATION JOURNALISTS FILMING AND COUNTER-PROTESTERS CHANTING AGAINST DEMONSTRATION Intentionally burning the Koran is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous and insulting act because they consider the Islamic holy book to be the literal word of God. Desecrating a Koran is seen as a grave offence. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (RECENT - JULY 20, 2023) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF STOCKHOLM CENTRAL MOSQUE ON SODERMALM ISLAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) 34-YEAR-OLD CHEF WHO HAD JUST FINISHED PRAYING IN THE MOSQUE, NESSIM JELLOUL, SAYING: "I am a Muslim. I respect all kinds of people but I don't go against their beliefs, I don't try to burn their books, because it's not respect and at least, it's not my religion who told me to do this." EXTERIOR OF STOCKHOLM CENTRAL MOSQUE Neither Denmark nor Sweden have legislation that can be used to forbid burning Korans. Sweden scrapped its blasphemy law in 1970, Denmark in 2017. In Sweden, police must issue a permit to protesters but can only refuse one if safety at the protest is compromised. In Denmark, protesters are only required to inform the police they are demonstrating. NASHVILLE, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 2, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER AND CEO OF THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH PROJECT AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, JACOB MCHANGAMA, SAYING: “Both Denmark and Sweden have abolished their blasphemy prohibitions, which means that both Denmark and Sweden allow very robust satire, mockery and criticism of religion. There are limits on what you can say about specific groups. So you're not free to say anything you like, very hateful about Muslims as a group. But the religion of Islam or any other religion, there are very, very wide limits for what you can say, even if deeply offensive to religious believers.” Both countries say they are examining ways to legally limit burnings to de-escalate tensions with Muslim nations to prevent economic boycotts and avoid acts of violence at home and abroad, such as the storming of Sweden's Baghdad embassy in July. The Swedish government is looking at whether its laws on maintaining public order could be modified. It has ruled out making it illegal to burn holy scriptures. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (RECENT - JULY 17, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE SWEDISH PARLIAMENT
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2023 16:02
  • Keywords: Denmark Islam Koran Sweden freedom of expression protests
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
  • Country: Sweden
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA004199303082023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Anti-Islam protesters in Denmark and Sweden have burnt or otherwise damaged the Koran, prompting outrage in Muslim countries and demands the Nordic governments put a stop to the burnings.
    While freedom of speech laws in both countries permit the protesters' actions, their governments have condemned them. They are also considering new laws that could prohibit the burnings, which domestic critics say would limit freedom of speech.
    (Production: Tom Little)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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