This is not happening in 17th century Denmark, but today. In 2023, progressive Denmark, the flower of European social democracy, will reinstate (while claiming otherwise) the crime of blasphemy − with imprisonment a possible punishment.
Ironically, this medieval offense was removed from the Danish penal code just six years ago after a lengthy debate, putting an end to a 344-year ban on offending God. According to the justice minister, this U-turn is justified by national security imperatives. We're talking about the crisis of the Quran burnings, the latest season of the clash of civilizations, written by bad screenwriters. And since we never learn from the past, we fall for it, to the point of folly. It's not the trap set by a few activists that's maddening – we'll never be able to prevent that – but the lack of reflection, memory, perspective and moderation on the part of so many heads of state and religious dignitaries.
Over the past few months, two Iraqi political refugees in Sweden, who claim to be atheists, have been carrying out spectacular Quran burnings in the presence of the press. They threaten to continue their desecrations, which have included trampling on the sacred book and inserting slices of bacon in its pages, until the Quran, which they consider "more dangerous than nuclear weapons," is banned. At the very least, they call for the removal of "the verses on murder." But when it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter what their motives are.
Far-right parties in Sweden and Denmark followed suit. These two countries, whose authorities have firmly condemned the Quran burners, were met with an avalanche of threatening rebukes. These came from regimes with leaders who seem to believe that if a person who expresses a transgressive opinion is not immediately burned (as in Pakistan), hanged (Iran) or beheaded ( Saudi Arabia), the country where they live must share their opinion. Accepting this insane logic, Denmark – and perhaps soon Sweden, which has repeatedly banned public burnings of the Quran this year – is proposing legislation to punish the "improper treatment of objects of significant religious importance to a religious community" with two years of imprisonment and a fine. It is as if thought had finally given in to religious pressure.
Let's overlook the inclusion, obviously just for show, of Catholics and Jews in this affair. No doubt, they too feel wounded by the burning of their holy books, but we have no recollection of notable representatives of these religions calling for the imprisonment of the perpetrators of such acts. The second act of hypocrisy consists in claiming that the legislation would not restore the offense of blasphemy, since it is specified that "verbal or written expression" would not be covered by the law. Blasphemy can just as easily be committed by word, writing, drawing or gesture − such a distinction makes no sense.
You have 57.4% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.