January 30, 2023

Russia condemns Quran burning near its consular department in Denmark

By Abdus Sattar Ghazali

The Russian embassy in Denmark has condemned protests that involve the burning of the Quran, one of which took place near the consular department, Russian news agency Tass reported Friday

"A series of sacrilegious protests involving the burning of the Quran - a holy book for Muslims - took place in Copenhagen on January 27, including in front of the consular department of the Russian embassy in Denmark. The public mockery of the feelings of believers, organized with the connivance of the Danish government, is not a manifestation of freedom of speech and democracy, but a rude and dim-witted provocation designed to incite interreligious discord and inter-civilizational conflict. Any opportunities for such antics should be completely eliminated, and their organizers should be brought to account," the embassy said in a statement on Telegram.

Tass said, Rasmus Paludan, who leads the far-right extremist Hard Line party told the Aftonbladet newspaper he planned to burn three copies of the Quran in Copenhagen on Friday. One burning was planned to take place at a mosque, another near the Russian embassy and the third one near the Turkish embassy. That doesn’t require government approval in Denmark, just a 24-hour notice. He said the Quran-burning near the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen wouldn’t be the last one.

"I announce that it’s the fault of [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan. Now that he doesn’t want to allow Sweden into NATO, I must teach him freedom of speech," Paludan said.

Novayagazeta reported on Friday, in an interview with the Swedish daily Aftonbladet, Paludan said he intended to burn the Koran every Friday until Turkish President Recep Erdoğan supported Sweden’s NATO membership bid. He also promised to stop burning the holy book in front of the Turkish embassy should Erdoğan approve Sweden’s membership in the alliance.

Paludan, who is also a Swedish national, did a similar act in Stockholm last week, burning a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy. After that, Turkey cancelled the visit of the Swedish Defense Minister to Ankara.

Erdoğan said the next day that Sweden should not expect Turkey to support its bid to join NATO. He called the action a “vile act” and an “insult” to those who respect human rights and freedoms. “If Sweden is so supportive of members of a terrorist organization and enemies of Islam, we advise them to entrust them with the defense of their country,” Erdogan said.

Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Editor -in-Chief of the Journal of America: www.journalofamerica.net. email: asghazali2011@gmail.com
 

HEADLINES

 The Journal of America Team:

 Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali

Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott

Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab