Turkey Condemns Denmark’s Disrespect towards the Holy Quran and Science, Calls for Swift Measures

Today, Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the repeated desecration of the Quran and the Turkish flag in Denmark, and urged the Danish authorities to prevent such provocations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry said that the hate crime was committed during the holy month of Ramadan.

Noting that a similar attack took place on March 24, the ministry said that authorizing such “heinous action under the guise of freedom of expression is totally unacceptable, and such an approach can never be justified.”

The ministry also noted the lack of legal and administrative measures and political will to prevent these hate crimes.

“This act is clear evidence that Islamophobia, xenophobia, discrimination and racism have recently increased in Europe. These hate crimes also constitute a crime for those who believe in tolerance, a culture of peaceful coexistence and democratic values. Not being able to see this reality and condoning these acts is gross negligence,” the ministry added. .

The ministry also said it had summoned Denmark’s envoy and urged the Danish authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent such provocations and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Recent months have witnessed many acts of burning the Qur’an, or attempts to do so, by anti-Islam personalities or groups in Northern Europe and Nordic countries.

In January, ultra-racist and far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm and again in front of a mosque in Copenhagen. Türkiye summoned the Danish ambassador over the incident.

Days after Paludan, far-right extremist Edwin Wagensfeld, leader of the anti-Islam party PEGIDA, tore up a Quran before setting it on fire at a demonstration in Enschede, the Netherlands.

The desecration of the Koran has since sparked outrage and condemnation around the world and calls for an end to permission for anti-Islam protests.