Iraq values Denmark’s decision criminalizing Quran burning
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad. Photo: Shafaq News
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, valued Denmark’s decision to submit a resolution criminalizing Quran burning.
The spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahaf, mentioned in a statement that Hussein valued the stance of the Danish government and its legal steps criminalizing the desecration of the Holy Quran and other divine books.
Al-Sahaf elaborated that Hussein’s remarks took place in a message to the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
The Iraqi Foreign Minister expressed his hopes that the new legislation would be approved as soon as possible.
Rasmussen indicated that such behavior does not represent Danish society, noting that the Danish government protects the Holy Quran and other heavenly books.
Two people burned a copy of the Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen last July, raising the possibility of a deterioration in relations between Iraq and Denmark.
One of the two people crushed the copy of the Quran into the ground with his feet and set it on fire, placing the Iraqi flag next to it on the ground.
The two people belong to a Danish anti-Islam group called Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots), which carried out a similar incident a week before, broadcasting it directly on Facebook.
Following the incident, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry mentioned in a statement that Iraq condemns the burning of the Quran in front of its embassy in Copenhagen.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry called on the authorities of the European Union to quickly reconsider so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate.
Iran and Iraq witnessed protests after the authorities in Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of copies of the Quran under laws protecting the right to freedom of expression.
Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated in Baghdad to condemn the burning or tearing of copies of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark.
Protesters in Iraq set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in July.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last month that diplomats from the Danish mission had left Baghdad.