Denmark has charged two individuals under a new law prohibiting the desecration of the Quran, marking the first use of the legislation since it was enacted following a series of Quran burnings that sparked widespread outrage among Muslims. The identities of the individuals have not been revealed.
The two are accused of “improper treatment of the Quran” during a June event that brought together people from various sectors, including politics, economics, and society. However, neither the prosecution office in Copenhagen nor local media outlets have provided specific details about their actions.
Prosecutor Lise-Lotte Nilas stated that the incident “took place publicly, was witnessed by a number of people, and was also filmed and broadcast live on Facebook,” bringing it to a broader audience.
The law, which was passed on December 7, 2023, and came into effect shortly afterward, was introduced in response to a wave of Quran desecrations in Denmark and neighboring Sweden. These incidents led to protests and condemnation from Muslim countries.
Under the new legislation, burning, tearing, or defiling holy books in public or sharing such actions in videos intended for wide distribution is now illegal. Violators of the law could face fines or imprisonment for up to two years. As of January 22, Danish newspaper Politiken reported that police were investigating eight potential violations of this law.
