Denmark to debate Quran burning bill

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) - Denmark’s parliament is scheduled Tuesday to debate the coalition government’s bill calling that wants a ban on Quran-burning protests.

The government has maintained that it backs the bill because of the threat to national security in reaction to the Islamophobic provocative protests.

The bill would make it against the law to "publicly or with the intention of dissemination in a wider circle to treat a text with strong religious significance for a religious community ... inappropriately," according to a summary on parliament's website.

Offenders could face a jail time of up to two years in prison.

The bill is presented in parliament on the context of a series of Islamophobic protests by far-rights group.

Earlier this year, members of the Islamophobic and far-right nationalist group, Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots), and far-right Danish leader Rasmus Paludan, were involved in the desecration of the Muslim holy book in front of the Turkish Embassy and mosques.

The incidents sparked outrage and condemnation across the Islamic world.

A Turkish court issued an arrest warrant for Paludan following his protests. The investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Paludan on the charge of "publicly insulting the religious values" is ongoing. As part of the investigation, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested Paludan's arrest to obtain a statement regarding the Quran-burning incident.

Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, in response to the provocative act, said the “burnings are deeply offensive and reckless acts committed by a few individuals … (who) do not represent the values the Danish society is built on.”