Far-right group burns Quran in Copenhagen
A group of far-right protesters set fire to copies of the Quran in Copenhagen on Tuesday in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in an anti-Islam demonstration, following a string of Quran burnings in Denmark and Sweden in the past week.
Turkey and Iraq condemned the burning of Islam’s holy book while in other Muslim-majority countries like Yemen, people took to the streets to protest. Hundreds of protesters in Baghdad stormed the Swedish embassy last week in response and tried to reach the Danish embassy but were stopped by security forces.
Tuesday’s protest in Copenhagen was organized by a far-right group who call themselves “Danish Patriots.” The group orchestrated the Quran burnings on Monday and Friday, which they live-streamed on Facebook in front of the Iraqi embassy.
Quran burnings have increased in the two Scandinavian countries as Swedish and Danish laws allow them to continue under freedom of expression and right to protest laws.
Turkey condemned the “vile attacks” on Monday and asked Denmark to “prevent these outrageous acts.”
Egypt summoned Sweden’s chargé d’affaires on Tuesday following the incidents but has not yet reacted to events in Denmark.
Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador last Thursday. It also condemned the protesters in Copenhagen and said Danish embassy staff had left the country. Copenhagen denied withdrawing from Iraq, according to Reuters.
Both the Swedish and Danish governments have condemned the recent Quran burnings.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said in a statement the “desecration of the Quran, or any other holy scripture, is an offensive and disrespectful act, and a clear provocation.”
The Danish Foreign Ministry quoted Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen saying on Twitter that he had a “constructive” call with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
“Repeated DK’s condemnation of these shameful acts carried out by few individuals. Emphasized that all protests must remain peaceful,” the Foreign Ministry wrote.
