Denmark and Sweden investigate legal restrictions on protests involving Quran burning

(Patria) - The Danish government announced that it will investigate legal means to stop protests involving the burning of holy texts in certain circumstances, citing security concerns after reactions to such incidents in which the Quran was desecrated in Denmark and Sweden.

Noting that such protests have played into the hands of extremists, the government wants to "investigate" interventions in situations where "other countries, cultures and religions are offended and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark, not only in terms of security", according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AFP reported.

"This must, of course, be done within the framework of constitutionally protected freedom of expression and in a way that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has a very broad scope", it added, emphasizing that this is one of the most important values in the country.

Several recent protests involving the desecration of the Muslim holy book have raised diplomatic tensions across the Middle East and in the two Nordic countries. The Danish government has pointed out that the protests have "reached a level where Denmark, in many parts of the world and across continents, is perceived as a country that facilitates the offense and belittling of other countries' cultures, religions and traditions".

It added that the "primary purpose" of some actions was provocation and that they "could have significant consequences". Both Danish and Swedish ambassadors have been summoned for talks in a number of Middle Eastern countries.

In a separate statement, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he had been in close contact with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and that a similar process was underway in Sweden.

"We have also already begun to analyze the legal situation... to consider measures to strengthen our national security and the security of Swedes in Sweden and around the world", Kristersson said.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq have called for a meeting, to be held on Monday, of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the desecration of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark.