Quran desecration: Difference between revisions

[[File:Rasmus Paludan burning the Koran 2023-01-21 (2).jpg|thumb|[[Rasmus Paludan|Rasmus Paludan]] burning a translation of the Quran]]

'''Quran desecration''' is the treatment of the [[Quran]] in a way that ismight intendedbe to beconsidered disrespectfulinsulting.

It isIn Islamic law, tobelievers respectmust not damage the Quran and must perform a ritual washing called [[wudu]] before touching it.<ref name="ritual disposal">{{cite book|last=Myrvold|first=Kristina|title=The Death of Sacred Texts: Ritual Disposal and Renovation of Texts in World|year=2010|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|location=Farnham Surrey England|isbn=9780754669180|pages=31–57|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HT8CAqlycW0C&pg=PR3}}</ref> Conversely, intentionally damaging copies is considered [[Islam and blasphemy|blasphemous]] in Islam. It is a point of controversy whether non-Muslims should be made to follow Islamic law,<ref>Hansen, Lene. "The politics of securitization and the Muhammad cartoon crisis: A post-structuralist perspective." Security Dialogue 42.4-5 (2011): 357-369.</ref> and a sensitive topic in international relations how it should be handled when Muslims demand adherence to Islamic Quranic practices by nonbelievers.<ref>Blue Holmes, Catherine. "Quran Burning and Religious Hatred: A Comparison of American International, and European Approaches to Freedom of Speech." Wash. U. Global Stud. L. Rev. 11 (2012): 459.</ref><ref>Al-Rawi, Ahmed. "The Online Response to the Quran Burning Incidents." Political Islam and Global Media: The boundaries of religious identity (2016): 105-21.</ref><ref>Hansen, Lene. "Theorizing the image for security studies: Visual securitization and the Muhammad cartoon crisis." European journal of international relations 17.1 (2011): 51-74.</ref>

Intentionally desecrating a copy of the Quran results in imprisonment as punishment in some countries and might result in a death sentence in [[Afghanistan]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Somalia]], and [[Pakistan]], or up to life imprisonment in [[Pakistan]], according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code.<ref name=Reut/><ref name=BBC/>{{Clarify|reason=Which country penal code?|date=September 2023}}

Following the printing of the 1924 "royal" edition (''amīriyya'')"<ref>Michael W. Albin, "Printing of the Quran" [[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an]], Vol. 4, [[Brill Publishers|Brill]]</ref> a large number of pre-[[1924 Quran]]s were destroyed by dumping them in the river [[Nile]].<ref>{{cite book |author-last=Reynolds |author-first=Gabriel Said |author-link=Gabriel Said Reynolds |year=2008 |editor-last=Reynolds |editor-first=Gabriel Said |title=The Quran in its Historical Context |url=https://archive.org/details/quranitshistoric00reyn |url-access=limited |location=[[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon, Oxfordshire]] |publisher=[[Routledge]] |chapter=Introduction: Qur'anic Studies and its Controversies |pages=[https://archive.org/details/quranitshistoric00reyn/page/n17 1–26] |doi=10.4324/9780203939604 |isbn=978-0-415-42899-6 |ref=GSRQSaIC2008 |s2cid=160637821 |access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>

In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Quran<ref name=Reut/> in front of Muslim prisoners at the [[United States]] military [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] in Cuba fueled widespread controversy and led to ensuing Muslim riots. A USU.S. military investigation confirmed four instances of Quran desecration by US personnel (two of which were described as "unintentional"), and fifteen instances of desecration by Muslim prisoners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pentagon Details Abuse Of Koran |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005093324/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/03/AR2005060301654.html |archive-date=2020-10-05 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/03/AR2005060301654.html}}</ref> According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own Holy books."<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-admits-abuses-to-qur-an-in-guantanamo-1.537573 U.S. admits abuses to Quran in Guantanamo].</ref> In May 2005, a report in ''[[Newsweek]]'', claiming that it was U.S. interrogators who desecrated the Quran at the Guantanamo Bay base, further sparking Muslim unrest.<ref name=Reut/>

In 2010, Christian pastor [[Terry Jones (pastor)|Terry Jones]] of the [[Dove World Outreach Center]], a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked Islamist condemnation from Muslims after announcing [[2010 Quran-burning controversy|plans to burn a Quran]] on the anniversary of the Islamic terrorist [[September 11 attacks]] on the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesian Muslims Protest Plans to Burn Quran on September 11|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Indonesian-Muslims-Protest-Plans-to-Burn-Koran-on-September-11-102250384.html|access-date=9 September 2010|newspaper=Voice of America news|date=5 September 2010}}</ref> He later cancelled the plans;<ref>{{cite news|title=US pastor Terry Jones cancels Koran burning|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11255366|access-date=10 September 2010|newspaper=BBC News|date=9 September 2010}}</ref> however, on March 20, 2011, he oversaw the burning of a Quran. In response, Muslims in Afghanistan rioted and 12 people were killed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Terry Jones (Pastor) |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/terry_jones_pastor/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404182026/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/terry_jones_pastor/index.html |archive-date=2011-04-04}}</ref>

In February 2012, protests broke out in various parts of Afghanistan over the improper disposal of Qurans at the US military [[Bagram Airfield|Bagram Air Base]].<ref>''[https://news.yahoo.com/afghans-protest-report-korans-desecrated-u-074108214.html]'', Reuters, February 21, 2012, retrieved February 21, 2012</ref> Protesters shouted "[[Death to America]]" and [[Flag desecration|burned]] US flags. At least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured. Also, 6 U.S. soldiers were killed after members of the Afghan National Security Forces turned their weapons on them and the Afghan protesters.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-02-25/afghan-quran-protests/53240476/1 | work=USA Today | title=Most Popular E-mail Newsletter | date=25 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017581903_afghan24.html | work=The Seattle Times | first=Laura | last=King | title=Afghan soldier kills 2 U.S. troops over Quran burning | date=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=7 killed in Afghan protests over Quran burning[1]{{!}}chinadaily.com.cn |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-02/23/content_14677857.htm |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>

On March 19, 2015, [[Murder of Farkhunda|Farkhunda Malikzada]], a 27-year-old [[Afghans|Afghan]] woman, was publicly beaten and killed by a mob of hundreds of people in [[Kabul]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/afghan-farkhunda-family-demands-justice-150402201946987.html|title=Family of Afghan woman lynched by mob demands justice|date=2 Apr 2015|work=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|AlJazeera]]}}</ref><ref name="video1">{{cite video |title=The Killing of Farkhunda |url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000004108808/the-killing-of-farkhunda.html |publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Farkhunda had previously been arguing with a mullah named Zainuddin, in front of a [[mosque]] where she worked as a religious teacher,<ref name=guardian/> about his practice of selling charms at the [[Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque]], the Shrine of the King of Two Swords,<ref name=NYT032915>{{cite news|author1=Joseph Goldstein|title=Woman Killed in Kabul Transformed From Pariah to Martyr|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/world/asia/farkhunda-woman-killed-in-kabul-transformed-from-pariah-to-martyr.html|access-date=March 30, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=March 29, 2015}}</ref> a religious shrine in Kabul.<ref name="bbc2015">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32014077 | title=Afghan woman Farkhunda lynched in Kabul 'for speaking out' | work=BBC | date=23 March 2015 | access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref> During this argument, Zainuddin reportedly falsely accused her of burning the Quran. Police investigations revealed that she had not burned anything.<ref name=guardian>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/23/attention-from-media-family-would-be-in-danger | title=Farkhunda's family take comfort from tide of outrage in wake of her death | work=The Guardian | date=23 March 2015 | access-date=23 March 2015 | author=Rasmussen, Sune Engel}}</ref> A number of prominent public officials turned to Facebook immediately after the death to endorse the murder.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|last1=Shalizi|first1=Hamid|last2=Donati|first2=Jessica|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-woman-idUKKBN0MG1ZA20150320|title=Afghan cleric and others defend lynching of woman in Kabul|access-date=9 August 2015|work=Reuters|date=20 March 2015}}</ref> After it was revealed that she did not burn the Quran, the public reaction in [[Afghanistan]] turned to shock and anger.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Jack|title=Afghans Protest Brutal Mob Killing of 'Innocent' Woman|url=http://www.newsweek.com/afghans-protest-brutal-mob-killing-innocent-woman-kabul-315898|access-date=29 March 2015|agency=Newsweek|publisher=Newsweek|date=23 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.equaltimes.org/what-s-the-future-for-women-s|title=What's the future for women's rights in Afghanistan?|work=EqualTimes.org|date=14 Apr 2015}}</ref> Her murder led to 49 arrests;<ref name="bbctrial">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32564886|agency=BBC News|title=Trial begins in case of Kabul lynching of Farkhunda|date=2 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015}}</ref> three adult men received twenty-year prison sentences, eight other adult males received sixteen year sentences, a minor received a ten-year sentence, and eleven police officers received one-year prison terms for failing to protect Farkhunda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33358710|title=Afghan court quashes Farkhunda mob killing death sentences|date=2 Jul 2015|work=BBC News}}</ref> Her murder and the subsequent protests served to draw attention to [[women's rights in Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A Memorial To Farkhunda Appears In Kabul |url=http://hambastagi.org/new/en/reports/1481-a-memorial-to-farkhunda-appears-in-kabul-22-oct-2015.html |website=hambastagi.org}}</ref>

In 2020 April, a man recorded a video of himself desecrating and stepping on the Quran in Saudi Arabia and uploaded the video on social media. The act was widely condemned on social media.<ref name="Shia Waves">{{cite news |date=22 April 2019|title=Desecrated Quran found in a trash dump in Saudi Arabia|url=https://shiawaves.com/english/news/islam/9014-man-desecrates-holy-quran-in-saudi-arabia/|newspaper=Shia Waves}}</ref>

===2017–present2017–2023 Denmark===

ItThe legality of burning religious scriptures in Denmark was disputed for a long time, since the act might hashave been punishable under the country's blasphemy law (which, though on the books, was considered to may have lapsed; for instance, it hadn't been used to prosecute a televised Bible burning in 1997). But the blasphemy law was officially abolished in 2017, after which it became legal to desecrate Qurans inand Denmarkother sincereligious 2017scriptures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/quran-burner-denmark-facebook-blasphemy-laws-repeal-a7771041.html|title=Quran-burner trial dropped after Danish parliament revokes centuries-old blasphemy law|date=3 June 2017|work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=L 170 Forslag til lov om ændring af straffeloven. |url=https://www.ft.dk/samling/20161/lovforslag/l170/index.htm |website=[[Folketing]]}}</ref> Burnings of the Quran, sometimes wrapped in bacon,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/islamkritiker-rasmus-paludan-brente-koran-surret-inn-i-bacon/s/12-95-3423679174|title=Islamkritiker Rasmus Paludan brente Koran surret inn i bacon |date=2 May 2019|work=Nettavisen|language=no}}</ref> and other forms of desecration such as throwingripping the book toapart, throwing it in the grounddustbin iswere a regular occurrence at rallies of the party [[Stram Kurs]] and party leader [[Rasmus Paludan]] as well as similar extremist groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/25/denmark-s-quran-burning-politician-gathering-support-for-election-candidacy|title= Denmark's Quran-burning politician gathering support for election candidacy Access to the comments|date=25 April 2019|work=Euronews}}</ref> Paludan callscalled on his supporters to urinatepee on the Quran,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/jdLvez/hoeyreradikal-provokatoer-og-koranbrenner-kan-bli-valgt-inn-i-folketinget|title=Høyreradikal provokatør og koranbrenner kan bli valgt inn i Folketinget|date=4 May 2019|work=Aftenposten|language=no}}</ref> callscall it a "shit book", and the Prophet [[Muhammad]] a [[Aisha#Age at the time of marriage|pedophile]] murderer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/valg19/paludans-far-ubehageligt-at-laese-om-rasmus/7655728|title=Paludans far: Ubehageligt at læse om Rasmus|date=1 June 2019|work=Ekstrabladet|language=Danish}}</ref>

A small anti-Islam group called the Danish Patriots set fire to Qurans in front of the Turkish and Egyptian embassies in 2023. <ref name=dpatriots>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/protesters-burn-koran-front-egyptian-embassy-denmark-2023-07-25/|title=Korans burnt in front of Egyptian, Turkish embassies in Denmark|website=[[Reuters]] }}</ref>

{{main|2023 Quran desecrationburnings in Sweden}}

Since 2020, the Danish party [[Stram Kurs]] and the party leader [[Rasmus Paludan]] have planned or orchestrated Quran burnings in multiple Swedish cities. This has resulted in numerous riots in Swedish cities against both planned and realized desecrations, notably the [[2020 Sweden riots]] and [[2022 Sweden riots]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-18 |title=Dozens arrested at Sweden riots sparked by planned Quran burnings |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61134734 |access-date=2022-04-28}}</ref>

On June 28, 2023, [[Salwan Momika]], an Iraqi immigrant living in Sweden, burned a copy of the Quran and played football with the copy, outside [[Stockholm Mosque|Stockholm's central mosque]]. The Swedish police had granted a permit for the demonstration, after a Swedish court ruling that allowed it on the grounds of freedom of expression. The incident led to [[Protests against Quran desecration in Sweden|international protests]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Marie Mannes |author2=Louise Rasmussen |title=Protester burns Koran at Stockholm mosque on Eid holiday |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swedish-police-approve-small-anti-koran-demonstration-mosque-2023-06-28/ |access-date=1 July 2023 |work=Reuters |date=June 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Lindsay Isaac |title=Turkey condemns Quran burning protest in Stockholm as a 'heinous act' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/28/europe/sweden-quran-protest-intl/index.html |access-date=1 July 2023 |agency=CNN |date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>

However, Swedish police did file preliminary hate crime charges against a man who burned the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm in June, 2023 and Swedish state prosecutors will decide whether to formally indict him or not. If they do indict him, it will be up to a Swedish judge to decide on whether or not his actions constituted incitement under the current law.<ref>AP,{{Cite web |date=2023-07-21 |title=Why Does Sweden Allow Quran Burnings? It Has No Blasphemy Laws |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/why-does-sweden-allow-quran-burnings-it-has-no-blasphemy-laws-/7190103.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} </ref>

In March 2013, the al Qaeda English-language magazine Inspire published a poster stating "Wanted dead or alive for crimes against Islam" with a prominent image of [[Terry Jones (pastor)|Terry Jones]], known for public Quran burning events.<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Qaeda Mag Publishes 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' List |url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/al-qaeda-mag-publishes-wanted-dead-or-alive-list_704904.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302061917/https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/al-qaeda-mag-publishes-wanted-dead-or-alive-list_704904.html |archive-date=2013-03-02}}</ref> Iran's news agency, IRIB, reported on April 8, 2013, that Terry Jones planned another Quran burning event on September 11, 2013. On April 11, IRIB published statements from an Iranian MP who said the West must stop the event and warned that "the blasphemous move will spark an uncontrollable wave of outrage among over 1.6 billion people across the globe who follow Islam." In Pakistan, protesters set the American flag and effigy of the US pastor Terry Jones on fire, condemning the 9/11 plan, according to an April 14, 2013 article in ''The Nation''.<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/14-Apr-2013/protest-against-planning-to-burn-holy-quran-copies |title=Protest against planning to burn Holy Quran copies |access-date=2015-07-14 |url-status=deadlive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201044901/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/14-Apr-2013/protest-against-planning-to-burn-holy-quran-copies |archive-date=2013-12-01 }}</ref>

[[Turkey]] summoned the Dutch ambassador in [[Ankara]] following "a vile attack" on the Quran in the Hague in January 2023. Ambassadorby Dutch [[JoepPegida]] Wijnandsleader [[Edwin Wagensveld]]. Ambassador Joep Wijnands was told by the Foreign Ministry that Turkey condemned "the heinous and despicable act" and demanded the Netherlands not to allow such "provocative acts".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Türkiye strongly condemns 'despicable act' on Quran in Netherlands |url=https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/türkiye-strongly-condemns-despicable-act-on-quran-in-netherlands-64809 |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Türkiye strongly condemns 'despicable act' on Quran in Netherlands |language=en}}</ref>