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{{Short description|Improper treatment of Islam's holy book}}
'''Qur'an desecration''' is defined as insulting the ], the holy book of ], by defiling or defacing it. Most traditional schools of Islamic law dictate that a ] may not touch the Qur'an, which is regarded as the literal word of ] in its untranslated ] form, unless he or she is in a state of ] ''(])''. Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text; instead, burning or burying the worn-out copies in a respectful manner is required. Indeed, some devout Muslims refuse to use ], for fear that it might contain ] from a recycled Qur'an.
] burning a translation of the Quran]]
{{Quran}}
{{islamophobia}}


'''Quran desecration''' is the treatment of the ] in a way that might be considered insulting.
Respect for the written text of the Qur'an is an important element of religious faith in ]. Intentionally insulting the Qur'an is regarded as a form of ]. Desecrating a copy of the Qur'an is punishable by imprisonment in some countries (life imprisonment in Pakistan, according to Article 295-B of the Penal Code) and, reportedly, by death in others.


In Islamic law, believers must not damage the Quran and must perform a ritual washing 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 ] 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>
A non-Muslim in a non-Islamic ] is not required to pay such respect to a copy of Qu'ran. As a practical matter, a non-Muslim book dealer in a non-Muslim country will very likely handle or dispose of a copy of Qur'an as he or she would any other book.


The disposal of worn copies is also of concern to Muslims. Because the Quran contains no specifics on how to dispose of a worn or defective text, different and conflicting methods of disposal have been adopted in different regions by different sects. According to Islamic historian ] the Quran should be wrapped in cloth and buried on holy ground where it is unlikely to be trampled on or "safely" placed where it is unlikely to come into contact with impurity.<ref name="ritual disposal" /> Burning, when carried out respectfully, is also considered acceptable,<ref name=Arabnews>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourdialogue.com/q4.htm |title=Disposing of the sheets of Quran|website=ourdialogue.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813003109/http://www.ourdialogue.com/q4.htm|archive-date=13 August 2006}} Reprint from Our Dialogue Q&A series, ], '']'', Jeddah</ref> and Saudi Arabia, for instance, destroys Qurans that fall short of state standards by burning to avoid soiling the pages.<ref name=weekly>'''', The Weekly Standard, May 30, 2005, retrieved Feb 7 2012</ref><ref name=guard2005>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourdialogue.com/q4.htm |title=Back |access-date=2005-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/19991009070922/http://ourdialogue.com/q4.htm |archive-date=1999-10-09 }}</ref>
During the ] in the early years of the ], allegations of deliberate desecration of the Qur'an in front of Muslim prisoners at the ] military base in ] fueled a widespread controversy and were blamed for deadly riots. The Pentagon accused the prisoners of Qur'an desecration as well.


Intentionally desecrating a copy of the Quran results in imprisonment as punishment in some countries and might result in a death sentence in ], ], ], and ], 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}}
== See also ==


==Notable instances of desecration or controversy==
*]
{{See also|List of book-burning incidents}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|2=section|date=August 2022}}


===Pre-1924 Qurans dumped in the Nile===
]
{{Main|Cairo edition}}

Following the printing of the 1924 "royal" edition (''amīriyya'')"<ref>Michael W. Albin, "Printing of the Quran" ], Vol. 4, ]</ref> a large number of pre-]s were destroyed by dumping them in the river ].<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=]|publisher=]|chapter=Introduction: Qur'anic Studies and its Controversies|pages=|doi=10.4324/9780203939604|isbn=978-0-415-42899-6|ref=GSRQSaIC2008|s2cid=160637821|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>

===2005 – Guantanamo===
{{main|2005 Quran desecration controversy}}

In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Quran<ref name=Reut/> in front of Muslim prisoners at the ] military's ] in Cuba fueled widespread controversy and led to ensuing Muslim riots. A U.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=]|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>.</ref> In May 2005, a report in '']'', claiming that it was U.S. interrogators who desecrated the Quran at the Guantanamo Bay base, further sparking Muslim unrest.<ref name=Reut/>

===2010 Dove World Quran-burning controversy===
{{main|Dove World Outreach Center Quran-burning controversy}}

In 2010, Christian pastor ] of the ], a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked condemnation from Muslims after announcing ] on the anniversary of the ] 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 the 2011 ] documentary '']'', Megan Phelps of the ] explained in an interview that they deliberately and publicly burned a copy of the Quran.<ref>''America's Most Hated Family in Crisis''</ref>

===2012 – Bangladesh===
{{main|2012 Ramu violence}}
On September 29, an Islamic mob estimated at 25,000 vandalized and torched ] temples, shrines, and houses, along with ] temples as incited by an alleged Facebook Buddhist posting of an image depicting the desecration of a Quran. The violence started in ] in ] and later spread to other areas of Bangladesh.

===2012/2015 – Afghanistan===
{{main|2012 Afghanistan Quran burning protests}}

In February 2012, protests broke out in various parts of Afghanistan over the improper disposal of Qurans at the U.S. military's ].<ref>'''', Reuters, February 21, 2012, retrieved February 21, 2012</ref> Protesters shouted "]" and ] U.S. flags. At least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured. Also, six 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{{!}}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, ], a 27-year-old ] woman, was publicly beaten and killed by a mob of hundreds of people in ].<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=]}}</ref><ref name="video1">{{cite AV media|title=The Killing of Farkhunda|url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000004108808/the-killing-of-farkhunda.html|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> Farkhunda had previously been arguing with a mullah named Zainuddin, in front of a ] where she worked as a religious teacher,<ref name=guardian/> about his practice of selling charms at the ], 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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231085503/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-woman-idUKKBN0MG1ZA20150320|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 31, 2015|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 ] 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 ].<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>

===2013–2020 – Saudi Arabia===
In 2013, over 50 copies of the Quran were found in different storm water inlets of the sewage system of the city of ], in the ] of ].<ref name="Riyadh Connect">{{cite news|date=14 December 2013|title=Copies of Holy Quran found in street drains in Saudi city|url=https://www.riyadhconnect.com/copies-of-holy-quran-found-in-street-drains-in-saudi-city/|newspaper=Riyadh Connect|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015147/https://www.riyadhconnect.com/copies-of-holy-quran-found-in-street-drains-in-saudi-city/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Shafaqna"/>
In the same year, there were protests in Saudi Arabia after reports of prison officials in Al-Haer province insulting the Quran.<ref name="IQNA">{{cite news|date=21 October 2017|title=Quran Desecration in Taif, Saudi Arabia|url=https://iqna.ir/en/news/3464212/quran-desecration-in-taif-saudi-arabia|newspaper=International Quran News Agency}}</ref>

In 2014, torn copies of the Quran were found in garbage cans in the same city of Taif.<ref name="IQNA"/><ref name="Shafaqna"/>

In 2016, Qurans were found to have been put in the garbage by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Morocco, causing outrage across Morocco.<ref name="IFP News">{{cite news|date=4 October 2016|title=Qurans Put in Garbage by Saudi Embassy in Morocco Cause Fury|url=https://ifpnews.com/qurans-put-garbage-saudi-embassy-morocco-cause-fury|newspaper=Iran Front Page News}}</ref><ref name="Albawaba">{{cite news|date=4 October 2016|title=Qurans put in the garbage by the Saudi embassy in Rabat cause fury in Morocco|url=https://www.albawaba.com/loop/qurans-put-garbage-saudi-embassy-rabat-cause-fury-morocco-889474|newspaper=Albawaba}}</ref>

In 2017, again, a large number of Quran copies were found in the sewage system of Taif.<ref name="IQNA"/><ref name="Shafaqna"/>

In 2019, torn copies of the Quran were found in a trash dump in the city of ].<ref name="Shafaqna">{{cite news|date=24 June 2019|title=Desecrated Quran found in a trash dump in Saudi Arabia|url=https://en.shafaqna.com/99430/desecrated-quran-found-in-a-trash-dump-in-saudi-arabia/|newspaper=Shafaqna}}</ref>

In 2020, 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>

===2017–2023 – Denmark===
], Copenhagen, Denmark in 2019]]
The legality of burning religious scriptures in Denmark was disputed for a long time, since the act might have 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 and other religious scriptures.<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=]|date=9 January 2017}}</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 ripping the book apart, throwing it in the dustbin were a regular occurrence at rallies of the party '']'' and party leader ] 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 called on his supporters to pee 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> call it a "shit book", and ] a 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=]}}</ref>

In December 2023, ]et passed a law to make it illegal to burn, soil, trample on or cut recognised religious scriptures like the Bible, the Torah or the Quran.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bryant|first1=Miranda|title=Danish MPs vote to ban desecration of religious texts after Qur'an burnings|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/07/danish-mps-vote-to-ban-desecration-of-religious-texts-after-quran-burnings|access-date=9 December 2023|work=The Guardian|date=7 December 2023}}</ref>

===2019–present - Norway===
Since Lars Thorsen became leader of the ] group in 2019, the group has started repeatedly burning the Quran at their rallies in Norway.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vl.no/nyheter/2022/05/04/nar-sian-skal-brenne-koranen-ma-bibliotek-stenge-ganske-horribelt/|title=Når Sian skal brenne Koranen, må bibliotek stenge: – Ganske horribelt|date=4 May 2022|work=Vårt Land|language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2019/11/16/koran-brenning-i-kristiansand-forte-til-brak/|title=Koran-brenning i Kristiansand førte til bråk|date=16 November 2019|work=Dagsavisen|language=Norwegian}}</ref> The group has also ripped apart and spit on copies of the Quran,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/norge/2020/08/29/195701828/sian-profil-rev-i-stykker-koranen-foran-motdemonstrantene-ble-lagt-i-bakken|title=Sian-profil rev i stykker koranen foran motdemonstrantene – ble lagt i bakken|work=Abc nyheter|date=29 August 2020|language=no}}</ref> and dragged it around on a leash like a dog.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.varden.no/nyheter/i/0G2qg6/da-sian-kom-broet-det-ut-slagsmaal-naa-oppfordrer-de-muslimene-hold-dere-unna|title=Da SIAN kom, brøt det ut slagsmål. Nå oppfordrer de muslimene: – Hold dere unna|date=6 October 2021|work=Varden|language=no}}</ref>

=== 2020–present - Sweden ===
{{main|2023 Quran burnings in Sweden}}
] burning a Quran in October 2023]]
Since 2020, the Danish party '']'' and the party leader ] 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 ] and ].<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, ], an Iraqi immigrant living in Sweden burned a copy of the Quran and played football with the copy, outside ]. 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 ].<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>

There is a law in Sweden against ], but it is considered not to apply to critique or desecration against a religion as such, only to negative statements against people based on having a specified religion.<ref></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>{{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>

On July 20, 2023, hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in response to a planned Quran burning in Stockholm, prompting Iraqi authorities to expel the Swedish ambassador and recall their chargé d'affaires. The incident led to diplomatic tensions between ] and ], with condemnation{{clarify|date=August 2023}} from several countries, including the ] and the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-20 |title= Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over planned burning of Qur'an in Stockholm |language=en |work=The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/protesters-angered-by-quran-burning-storm-swedens-embassy-in-baghdadl |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last1= Alkhshali | first1= Hamdi | last2= Alkhaldi |first2= Celine | last3= Najim | first3= Aqeel |date=2023-07-20 |title= Protesters storm Swedish embassy in Iraq over Quran burning plan |language=en |work= CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/19/middleeast/iraq-swedish-embassy-protest-quran-burning-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref>

On 17 February, 2024, in Stockholm, a woman named Jade Sandberg, dressed as a nun, burned the Quran and called for a ban of Islam in Europe.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gzt.com/video/jurnalist/isvecin-baskenti-stockholmde-bir-kadin-kuran-i-kerim-yakti-2234160 | title=İsveç'in başkenti Stockholm'de bir kadın Kur'an-ı Kerim yaktı | date=18 February 2024 }}</ref>

===Others===

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 ], 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=https://www.nation.com.pk/14-Apr-2013/protest-against-planning-to-burn-holy-quran-copies |title=Protest against planning to burn Holy Quran copies |date=14 April 2013 |access-date=2015-07-14 |url-status=live |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>

In October 2013, a Turkish woman was arrested on suspicion of blasphemy and inciting religious hatred after allegedly stepping on Quran and then posting the picture on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkey arrests woman on suspicion of blasphemy |date=14 February 2008 |url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/World/241854-Turkey-arrests-woman-on-suspicion-of-blasphemy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101091132/http://dunyanews.tv/en/World/241854-Turkey-arrests-woman-on-suspicion-of-blasphemy |archive-date=2015-11-01}}</ref>

Proposals to recycle old Qurans in Pakistan have met with opposition.<ref> ''].'' March 4, 2016</ref>

On July 31, 2016, a couple of days after the ], several copies of the Quran at the multi-faith room of ] in ] were desecrated when slices of pork were laid inside the book. The perpetrators also left a photo of ], the Catholic priest murdered during the attack, with the caption "Victim of Islam".<ref>{{cite news|title=Quran copies desecrated at Mater Dei hospital|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160730/local/quran-copies-desecrated-at-mater-dei-hospital.620444|work=]|date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731185404/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160730/local/quran-copies-desecrated-at-mater-dei-hospital.620444|archive-date=31 July 2016}}</ref>

] summoned the Dutch ambassador in ] following "a vile attack" on the Quran in the Hague in January 2023 by Dutch ] leader ]. 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>

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*'']''

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
&nbsp; <small></small> - The major sources about punishment are:
<ref name="Reut">
"Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong",
David Morgan, ] (Washington, DC), 15 May 2005.
</ref><ref name="BBC">
"BBC NEWS | South Asia | Riots over US Koran 'desecration'",
BBC.com, 11 May 2005, webpage:
.
</ref><ref name="Per">"Six Christians killed in Pakistan over Koran 'insult' ",
Persecutionbd.org, August 2009, webpage:
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502013855/http://www.persecutionbd.org/news/six-christians-killed-in-pakistan-over-koran-insult/ |date=2012-05-02 }} (compute-bound).</ref>
{{Refend}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* , BBC, 25 October 2009.

]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 13:55, 31 December 2024

Improper treatment of Islam's holy book
Rasmus Paludan burning a translation of the Quran
Quran
History
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Part of a series on
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Genocide:

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Other incidents:

Media
Opposition

Quran desecration is the treatment of the Quran in a way that might be considered insulting.

In Islamic law, believers must not damage the Quran and must perform a ritual washing before touching it. Conversely, intentionally damaging copies is considered blasphemous in Islam. It is a point of controversy whether non-Muslims should be made to follow Islamic law, and a sensitive topic in international relations how it should be handled when Muslims demand adherence to Islamic Quranic practices by nonbelievers.

The disposal of worn copies is also of concern to Muslims. Because the Quran contains no specifics on how to dispose of a worn or defective text, different and conflicting methods of disposal have been adopted in different regions by different sects. According to Islamic historian Michael Cook the Quran should be wrapped in cloth and buried on holy ground where it is unlikely to be trampled on or "safely" placed where it is unlikely to come into contact with impurity. Burning, when carried out respectfully, is also considered acceptable, and Saudi Arabia, for instance, destroys Qurans that fall short of state standards by burning to avoid soiling the pages.

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.

Notable instances of desecration or controversy

See also: List of book-burning incidents
This section may need to be rewritten to comply with Misplaced Pages's quality standards. You can help. The talk page may contain suggestions. (August 2022)

Pre-1924 Qurans dumped in the Nile

Main article: Cairo edition

Following the printing of the 1924 "royal" edition (amīriyya)" a large number of pre-1924 Qurans were destroyed by dumping them in the river Nile.

2005 – Guantanamo

Main article: 2005 Quran desecration controversy

In mid-2005, allegations of deliberate desecration of the Quran in front of Muslim prisoners at the United States military's Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba fueled widespread controversy and led to ensuing Muslim riots. A U.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. According to CBC News, "The statement did not provide any explanation about why the detainees might have abused their own Holy books." 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.

2010 Dove World Quran-burning controversy

Main article: Dove World Outreach Center Quran-burning controversy

In 2010, Christian pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, a church in Gainesville, Florida, provoked condemnation from Muslims after announcing plans to burn a Quran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. He later cancelled the plans; however, on March 20, 2011, he oversaw the burning of a Quran. In response, Muslims in Afghanistan rioted and 12 people were killed.

In the 2011 Louis Theroux documentary America's Most Hated Family in Crisis, Megan Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church explained in an interview that they deliberately and publicly burned a copy of the Quran.

2012 – Bangladesh

Main article: 2012 Ramu violence

On September 29, an Islamic mob estimated at 25,000 vandalized and torched Buddhist temples, shrines, and houses, along with Hindu temples as incited by an alleged Facebook Buddhist posting of an image depicting the desecration of a Quran. The violence started in Ramu Upazila in Cox's Bazar District and later spread to other areas of Bangladesh.

2012/2015 – Afghanistan

Main article: 2012 Afghanistan Quran burning protests

In February 2012, protests broke out in various parts of Afghanistan over the improper disposal of Qurans at the U.S. military's Bagram Air Base. Protesters shouted "Death to America" and burned U.S. flags. At least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured. Also, six U.S. soldiers were killed after members of the Afghan National Security Forces turned their weapons on them and the Afghan protesters.

On March 19, 2015, Farkhunda Malikzada, a 27-year-old Afghan woman, was publicly beaten and killed by a mob of hundreds of people in Kabul. Farkhunda had previously been arguing with a mullah named Zainuddin, in front of a mosque where she worked as a religious teacher, about his practice of selling charms at the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque, the Shrine of the King of Two Swords, a religious shrine in Kabul. During this argument, Zainuddin reportedly falsely accused her of burning the Quran. Police investigations revealed that she had not burned anything. A number of prominent public officials turned to Facebook immediately after the death to endorse the murder. After it was revealed that she did not burn the Quran, the public reaction in Afghanistan turned to shock and anger. Her murder led to 49 arrests; 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. Her murder and the subsequent protests served to draw attention to women in Afghanistan.

2013–2020 – Saudi Arabia

In 2013, over 50 copies of the Quran were found in different storm water inlets of the sewage system of the city of Taif, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. In the same year, there were protests in Saudi Arabia after reports of prison officials in Al-Haer province insulting the Quran.

In 2014, torn copies of the Quran were found in garbage cans in the same city of Taif.

In 2016, Qurans were found to have been put in the garbage by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Morocco, causing outrage across Morocco.

In 2017, again, a large number of Quran copies were found in the sewage system of Taif.

In 2019, torn copies of the Quran were found in a trash dump in the city of Khaybar.

In 2020, 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.

2017–2023 – Denmark

Paludan burning a Quran under police protection in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark in 2019

The legality of burning religious scriptures in Denmark was disputed for a long time, since the act might have 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 and other religious scriptures. Burnings of the Quran, sometimes wrapped in bacon, and other forms of desecration such as ripping the book apart, throwing it in the dustbin were a regular occurrence at rallies of the party Stram Kurs and party leader Rasmus Paludan as well as similar extremist groups. Paludan called on his supporters to pee on the Quran, call it a "shit book", and Muhammad a pedophile murderer.

A small anti-Islam group called the Danish Patriots set fire to Qurans in front of the Turkish and Egyptian embassies in 2023.

In December 2023, Folketinget passed a law to make it illegal to burn, soil, trample on or cut recognised religious scriptures like the Bible, the Torah or the Quran.

2019–present - Norway

Since Lars Thorsen became leader of the Stop Islamisation of Norway group in 2019, the group has started repeatedly burning the Quran at their rallies in Norway. The group has also ripped apart and spit on copies of the Quran, and dragged it around on a leash like a dog.

2020–present - Sweden

Main article: 2023 Quran burnings in Sweden
Salwan Momika burning a Quran in October 2023

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.

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'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 international protests.

There is a law in Sweden against incitement to ethnic or racial hatred, but it is considered not to apply to critique or desecration against a religion as such, only to negative statements against people based on having a specified religion.

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.

On July 20, 2023, hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in response to a planned Quran burning in Stockholm, prompting Iraqi authorities to expel the Swedish ambassador and recall their chargé d'affaires. The incident led to diplomatic tensions between Iraq and Sweden, with condemnation from several countries, including the US and the UNAOC.

On 17 February, 2024, in Stockholm, a woman named Jade Sandberg, dressed as a nun, burned the Quran and called for a ban of Islam in Europe.

Others

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, known for public Quran burning events. 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.

In October 2013, a Turkish woman was arrested on suspicion of blasphemy and inciting religious hatred after allegedly stepping on Quran and then posting the picture on Twitter.

Proposals to recycle old Qurans in Pakistan have met with opposition.

On July 31, 2016, a couple of days after the Normandy church attack, several copies of the Quran at the multi-faith room of Mater Dei Hospital in Malta were desecrated when slices of pork were laid inside the book. The perpetrators also left a photo of Jacques Hamel, the Catholic priest murdered during the attack, with the caption "Victim of Islam".

Turkey summoned the Dutch ambassador in Ankara following "a vile attack" on the Quran in the Hague in January 2023 by Dutch Pegida leader 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".

See also

References

  - The major sources about punishment are:

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