Muslim countries express outrage as far-right extremists burn Quran in Denmark during Ramadan

Members of a far-right group in Denmark burned a copy of the Quran on Friday, according to reports. 

The group, known as Patrioterne Går Live (The Patriots Go Live), broadcast the burning on a Facebook Live broadcast. 

They also displayed Islamophobic banners, and burned the Turkish flag in front of the Turkish embassy. 

We strongly condemn the attack that targeted the burning of the #Quran in Denmark,and this act shows that Islamophobia,discrimination and xenophobia have reached an alarming level in Europe.Since the beginning of Ramadan,we see a deliberate provocation of the feelings of #Muslims pic.twitter.com/rfzZvNh7D1

— khawla Zayed (@KhawlaZayed29) March 26, 2023

Several countries have criticised the burning of the Quran. 

The Turkish Foreign Ministry called the incident a hate crime, and said that Ankara would not accept "vile actions being allowed under the guise of freedom of expression".

"This act, which was carried out in (the holy Islamic month of) Ramadan, has once again clearly revealed that Islamophobia, discrimination and xenophobia have reached an alarming level in Europe and that no lessons have been learned from the past," the ministry added, according to Turkish news outlet Daily Sabah.

دانت #وزارة_الخارجية_وشؤون_المغتربين إحراق نسخة من المصحف الشريف من قبل متطرفين في العاصمة الدنماركية #كوبنهاغن يوم أمس، عملاً تحريضياً وعنصرياً مرفوضاً، وفعلاً من أفعال الكراهية ومظهراً من مظاهر الإسلاموفوبيا، يستفز مشاعر المسلمين، خاصة في شهر #رمضان المبارك. pic.twitter.com/ZxcE81VvbS

— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) March 25, 2023

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry denounced the move, and called the incident "an unacceptable and racist act that provokes the feelings of Muslims, especially in the holy month of Ramadan." 

It added that the burning was "an act of serious hatred and a manifestation of Islamophobia that incites violence and insults to religions."

Statement | Qatar Strongly Condemns the Burning of a Copy of the Holy Quran in Denmark#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/nZJVsVibbF

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) March 25, 2023

Qatar said Patrioterne Går Live’s actions were "an act of incitement and a serious provocation to the feelings of more than two billion Muslims in the world, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan."

Morocco also joined the chorus of condemnations, saying: "Although this heinous act was committed in front of the diplomatic representation of another Muslim country, the Kingdom of Morocco considers it a provocative act."

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry also condemned the burning "in the strongest terms". 

There have been several such burnings of Islam’s holy book over the past few months in Europe. In January, dual Danish and Swedish citizen Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, and later again in front of a mosque. 

Days later in the Netherlands, far-right extremist Edwin Wagensveld, who leads the anti-Muslim PEGIDA party, tore a Quran apart before setting it on fire.