Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen apologises for attacks on the Holy Quran

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lökke Rasmussen apologised for the attacks on the Holy Quran in front of the embassies of some Islamic countries, including Algeria, in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and expressed his regret.

According to a written statement by the Algerian Foreign Ministry, Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen held a telephone conversation with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf.

In the conversation, the Danish Minister expressed his regret and apologised for the wave of crimes against the burning of the Holy Quran in front of the embassies of some Islamic countries, including the Algerian Embassy in Copenhagen.

Emphasising that these acts were unacceptable, Minister Rasmussen noted that these attacks were completely contrary to the Danish society's tradition of tolerance.

Rasmussen also informed Attaf that his government is putting the finishing touches on the draft law aiming to put an end to these abhorrent practices, adding that he will present this draft law to the parliament.

On the other hand, Attaf and Rasmussen exchanged views on the preparations for the 20th session of the Joint Ministerial Conference of African and North European Countries to be held in Algiers on 16-18 October 2023.

Provocations against the Holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark

While attacks against the Holy Quran have recently intensified in Sweden and Denmark, the authorisation of these provocations is met with reaction.

An Islamophobic and ultra-nationalist group in Denmark started to organise attacks against the Turkish flag and the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen in April.

Members of the group, who opened anti-Islam banners and shouted slogans insulting Islam, burned the Holy Quran in front of the Copenhagen Embassies of Iraq on 21 July, Iran and Iraq on 24 July, and Egypt and Turkey on 25 July.

The group set fire to the Holy Quran in front of a mosque in Copenhagen on 28 July.

Attacks on the Holy Quran were organised in Denmark and Sweden simultaneously with the 18th Extraordinary Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held on 31 July to discuss the attacks on the Holy Quran.

On 1 August in front of the Embassies of Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Copenhagen and on 3 August in front of the Embassies of Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Holy Quran was set on fire.

The group burnt the Holy Quran in front of the embassies of Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran on 4 August and in front of the embassies of Turkey, Pakistan, Algeria, Indonesia and Iran on 7 August.

While these people carried their provocations outside Copenhagen, they faced the reaction of some Muslims here.

The provocations continued in front of the Copenhagen Embassies of Turkey, Algeria, Pakistan, Indonesia and Iran on 8 August and in front of the Copenhagen Embassies of Turkey, Pakistan, Algeria, Indonesia and Iran on 9 August.

The group also burnt a book whose author was Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen.

Firoozeh Bazrafkan, a Danish artist of Iranian origin, also attacked the Holy Quran in Copenhagen on 5 August.

Many countries, especially Turkey, reacted to the fact that these protests were carried out under police protection and with the permission of the competent authorities.