Denmark passes law to ban Koran burnings

A view of the exterior of Christiansborg Palace, which houses the Danish parliament, in Copenhagen, Denmark, September 1, 2023. REUTERS/ Johannes Birkebaek

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark's parliament on Thursday passed a law making it illegal to burn the Koran in public places, seeking to deescalate tensions with Muslim countries after a spate of Danish protests during which Islam's holy book was burned, causing outrage.

Denmark and Sweden experienced a series of public protests this year where anti-Islam activists burned or otherwise damaged copies of the Koran, triggering demands that the Nordic governments ban the practice.