COPENHAGEN, July 25 (Reuters) – A small group of anti-Islamic activists set fireplace to Qurans outdoors the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen on Tuesday after related protests in Denmark and Sweden in current weeks have angered Muslims.
Denmark and Sweden mentioned they deplored the burning of Islam’s holy e book however couldn’t stop it below guidelines defending free speech. Final week protesters in Iraq burned down the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
Tuesday’s protest in Copenhagen by a bunch known as “Danish Patriots” adopted the Koran burnings the group staged on Monday and final week outdoors the Iraqi embassy. Two such incidents have taken place in Sweden prior to now month.
The Iraqi International Ministry on Monday known as on authorities in EU nations to “rapidly rethink the so-called freedom of expression and the fitting to protest” in mild of the Koran fires.
Turkey mentioned on Monday it strongly condemned what it known as a “despicable assault” on the Quran and known as on Denmark to take the mandatory steps to forestall this “hate crime” in opposition to Islam.
The Egyptian International Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Swedish cost d’affaires to sentence the desecration of the Korans.
Denmark has condemned the fires as “provocative and shameful acts”, however says it has no energy to dam non-violent protesters.
Danish International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen mentioned on Tuesday he had “constructive phone talks” with Iraqi International Minister Fuad Husseein about bilateral relations between the 2 nations and the Quran burnings.
“Repeated DK’s condemnation of those shameful acts dedicated by a number of people. Emphasised that every one protests should stay peaceable,” he wrote on X, the social community previously often known as Twitter.
“Individuals get pleasure from extra freedom of expression after they protest,” College of Copenhagen legislation professor Trine Baumbach advised Reuters, explaining Danish legal guidelines. “It would not simply embody verbal expression. Individuals can specific themselves in numerous methods, equivalent to burning issues.”
Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, enhancing by Terje Solsvik and Nick Macfie
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