2023-08-01 18:48:20
The initiative of the Swedish and Danish governments is an attempt to appease diplomatic relations with Muslim-majority countries after the protests of recent days.
Fernanda Melo Larsen, correspondent of RFI em Copenhagen
Denmark and Sweden are studying the adoption of legal provisions that could prohibit the burning of more copies of the Koran by citizens of both countries. In the case of Denmark, the government already has concrete actions planned to reduce the tensions caused by the desecration of the book that contains sacred texts for Muslims.
The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke, defends an intervention by the authorities in situations where other countries, cultures and religions are being insulted, as such acts can have serious negative consequences for Denmark, including with regard to the security of the country.
“It’s not because we feel pressured to do so, but rather because our political assessment says it’s in everyone’s best interest. We cannot sit and wait for the situation to explode,” said the minister.
In Sweden, Conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson published on a social network that he held conversations on the subject with the Prime Minister of Denmark, the Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen. “We are in the most serious political security situation since World War II. [com a guerra na Ucrânia]and here at home we know that both States and state actors and individuals can take advantage of this situation”, said the Swedish leader.
Scandinavian countries want to follow the example of neighboring Norway, where it is illegal to make statements that threaten or insult someone, either out of hatred or because of the person’s religion.
Limit on freedom of expression
Despite the Danish government having a majority in Parliament, and therefore able to launch an emergency procedure for the measures to enter into force quickly, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has encountered resistance from both traditional right-wing and left-wing parties to toughen up the legislation.
The two left-wing parties – Unity List and Green Left – are against the government’s attempt to ban the burning of the Koran in front of embassies. According to the leaders of these parties, the case interferes with fundamental freedoms that countries with a low level of human rights should not decide.
“We must not change our legislation because some despotic regimes – which do not have even the remotest respect for the most basic human rights – threaten the export interests of companies,” wrote Unity List party leader Mai Villadsen on a social network. Social.
Let me put it straight.
Of course, we must not curtail freedom of expression. Enhedslisten is therefore against the government’s new ambitions in that direction.
Paludan and his like-minded people, who flat-headedly incite conflict and racism, must be met with sharp criticism. And I can’t…
— Mai Villadsen (@MaiVilladsen) July 31, 2023
The chairman of the Danish People’s Party, Morten Messerschmidt, considers it “shocking” that the government wants to introduce a principle that applies to the Muslim world, in Denmark.
“We must make it clear that in Denmark it is not the Koran or Muslim rules that apply. They may apply to the Muslim world, but here we have freedom of expression and it also applies to things we don’t like”, criticized the leader of the right-wing party.
For politician Rasmus Paludan, leader of the far-right Stram Kurs party, and known for having burned copies of the Koran in both Denmark and Sweden, this ban will only lead to other methods that can desecrate the religious book. “There are many possibilities, like using pig excrement, for example,” said Paludan.
High security threat level
While political representatives are discussing a way out to ease tensions, the intelligence and counter-terrorism sectors in Sweden and Denmark are on alert against attacks. In Sweden, Susanna Trehörning, deputy director of protection against terror at the country’s intelligence police, “the situation is serious.”
“On the five-point alert scale, we are at level 3, which means an intensified threat”, explained the police officer.
In Denmark, since March, the intelligence police (PET) classifies the alert level against attacks in the ‘serious’ category. After new books were burned in front of embassies in recent days, the risk became worrisome.
On Monday (31), seven copies of the Koran were burned in Danish territory. In the evening, the police reported on their official Twitter page that they had received a call about a possible bomb threat on Copenhagen’s main shopping street. The area was cordoned off, but no explosives were found.
Let me put it straight.
Of course, we must not curtail freedom of expression. Enhedslisten is therefore against the government’s new ambitions in that direction.
Paludan and his like-minded people, who flat-headedly incite conflict and racism, must be met with sharp criticism. And I can’t…
— Mai Villadsen (@MaiVilladsen) July 31, 2023
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