On 24 July 2023, in front of the Iraqi Embassy, members of the Danish nationalist group Danish Patriots set fire to a Quran. The burning, one of many recent acts of anti-Islamic instigation in Scandinavia, was met with outrage by Islamic States, institutions, and leaders. In Denmark, government officials quickly condemned the burning and other protests as “disgraceful” acts of “stupidity” “intended to provoke and create division” (Al Jazeera, 2023). Six days later, the Danish Prime Minister announced legislation to ban book burnings and other protest forms in rare instances when “countries…. could be insulted, potentially resulting in significant negative consequences for Denmark” (Mchangama, 2023). Though condemned by the government, the burning is an extreme reflection of rising islamophobia and xenophobia in Denmark motivated by both recent increases in migrations coupled with fears that the Danish economy might not be able to sustain its welfare state and a strong widespread desire to protect the perceived Danish way of life, culture, and history. It is this same sentiment that has been mentioned by several guest lecturers as the prevailing reason for public and political reluctance to adequately address the nation’s colonial legacy. In addition, the burning of the Quran, subsequent public reaction, and the debates surrounding its status as protected speech serve as a comparand to the outcry surrounding the intervention which placed a bust of King Frederick’s head into the canal.
References
Al Jazeera. (2023, July 24). Two protesters burn Quran outside Iraqi embassy in Denmark. Islamophobia News | Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/24/two-protesters-burn-quran-outside-iraqi-embassy-in-denmark
Mchangama, J., Project, F. of F. S., & Free Speech: A History From Socrates to Social Media. (2023, August 9). Denmark and Sweden are giving up on free speech. Time. https://time.com/6302649/denmark-swedens-quran-burnings-commitment-to-free-speech/
No comments:
Post a Comment