Danish law banning Quran’s desecration a great achievement: MQI

Spokesperson says historic legislation achieved through dialogue and peaceful advocacy

The Minhajul Quran International (MQI) announced a significant achievement on Monday, stating that it successfully advocated for the enactment of a landmark law by the Danish government, prohibiting the desecration of the Holy Quran.

In an official statement, a spokesperson for MQI explained that the initiative, undertaken by MQI's Denmark chapter in collaboration with the local Muslim community and civil society, aimed to address distressing incidents of Holy Quran desecration in Denmark. The efforts involved engaging in dialogues at both governmental and non-governmental levels.

The spokesperson highlighted that through these discussions, the Danish government was convinced to criminalise the desecration of the Holy Quran, reframing it as a punishable act rather than merely a matter of exercising freedom of speech.

Before the legislation, there were unfortunate occurrences of burning the Holy Quran every Friday outside certain mosques in Denmark, causing distress to the Muslim community. The spokesperson revealed that MQI's Denmark chapter, alongside civil society, would respond to such incidents by distributing copies of the Holy Quran with Danish translations, fostering positive change in the attitudes of non-Muslims.

Read also: Denmark's parliament adopts law banning desecration of Holy Quran

The translated Holy Quran played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion, while the collaboration between the local Muslim community and civil society facilitated an effective dialogue on the issue. The cumulative efforts eventually succeeded in persuading the government to enact the law against desecration.

Meanwhile, Chairman Supreme Council MQI, Dr Hassan Mohiud Din Qadri, and President MQI, Dr Hussain Mohiud Din Qadri, issued a joint statement emphasising the importance of awareness over enthusiasm in protecting the faith, beliefs, and practices of Islam.

They underscored the need for peaceful dialogue and adherence to legal principles in addressing issues related to Islam, particularly in countries where Islam is not the official religion.

The leaders asserted that illegitimate means should be avoided when pursuing legitimate demands, emphasising the teachings of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahirul Qadri, who has consistently advocated for resolving issues through pacifism, respect for the law, dialogue, moderation, and tolerance, in line with the principles taught by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

In conclusion, the leaders congratulated the entire organisation, acknowledging the success achieved by MQI's Danish chapter as a testament to Shaykh-ul-Islam's visionary approach.