Danish man charged with blasphemy.

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**Breotan**

A Danish man made a video of himself burning a Koran (Muslim holy text) and posted it to Facebook. He's been charged with blasphemy under Danish law. According to the article, this is the first such prosecution in 46 years.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denmark-man-burned-quran-koran-video-blasphemy-facebook-islam-prosecuted-charged-46-years-a7594796.html

Danish man who videoed himself burning the Quran charged with blasphemy

Case is first time Danish prosecutors have charged anyone with blasphemy in 46 years

The man posted the footage to a Facebook group called 'Yes to Freedom - no to Islam' Getty Images
A Danish man who posed a video of himself setting fire to the Quran on Facebook has been charged with blasphemy in the first such prosecution for 46 years.

The 42-year-old suspect put the clip, entitled “Consider your neighbour: it stinks when it burns" to a group called “YES TO FREEDOM – NO TO ISLAM” in December 2015.

Jan Reckendorff, from the public prosecutor’s office in Viborg, said: “It is the prosecution's view that circumstances involving the burning of holy books such as the Bible and the Quran can in some cases be a violation of the blasphemy clause, which covers public scorn or mockery of religion.

“It is our opinion that the circumstances of this case mean it should be prosecuted so the courts now have an opportunity to take a position on the matter.”

Judges in Aalborg will heard the case, although a date has not yet been set.

The maximum sentence for blasphemy is four months in prison but Mr Reckendorff said prosecutors were more likely to seek a fine.

Copies of the Quran are treated with reverence by Muslims and any move to desecrate or destroy the holy book is seen as a grave insult.

Rumours of Quran burnings have sparked arrests, lynchings and riots in Muslim-majority countries, while the move has been appropriated by the far-right and anti-Islamic groups, including the Westboro Baptist Church in America.

Under clause 140 of Denmark’s penal code, anyone can be imprisoned or fined for publicly insulting or degrading religious doctrines or worship.

Only four blasphemy prosecutions have ever been attempted in the country.

The last was in 1971, when two Denmark Radio producers were acquitted after airing a song mocking Christianity.
Two people were previously fined in 1946 after acting out a “baptism” at a ball in Copenhagen, while four others were sentenced for putting up anti-Semitic posters and leaflets in 1938.

At least a dozen other cases have been considered but not charged, including in 2006 when prosecutors decided to stop an investigation into the Jyllands-Posten newspaper over a controversial set of caricatures under the headline “The Face of Mohamed”.

The publication sparked protests around the world, with insulting the Prophet seen as a grave offence to Muslims and Islamic scholars interpreting Quran verses on idolatry to forbid any representation of Mohamed.

**kronk**

“Consider your neighbour: it stinks when it burns"

1/10. Didn't rhyme.

**feeder**

On the one hand, freedom of expression, implications of state overreach, blasphemy laws on the books in 2017?

On the other hand, bwahaha what a stupid fething asshat. Play stupid poseur games, win stupid poseur prizes.

**Breotan**

Yea, the guy is essentially a tool who posted one of those "book burning" stunts to get attention. Easily ignored. The scary part is that he's being prosecuted over it.

I've seen dozens of anti-Christian videos by atheists and can't help but wonder if any of them would be prosecuted were they Danish. Somehow I doubt it.

While I understand the deep seeded fear of far right nationalists in western Europe, is curtailing free speech really the solution?

**feeder**

He's only being charged. I suspect a conviction is unlikely, or if he is fined, his kickstarter campaign will turn this into a moneymaker for him courtesy of his fellow racist gakheads.

**Breotan**

I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

**jhe90**

Breotan wrote:
I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

Aye these laws are frankly archaic.
He,s being a idiot. But illegal... Urgh.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

jhe90 wrote:
Breotan wrote:
I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

Aye these laws are frankly archaic.
He,s being a idiot. But illegal... Urgh.
Someone could exploit this prosecution for the ill.

**feeder**

Could be the local authorities trying to head off a potential Hebdo-style retaliation. I know if I was chief of police in this fethstain's town I would be extremely worried about that.

**Frazzled**

I look forward to the 3AM tweet on the subject.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

feeder wrote:
He's only being charged. I suspect a conviction is unlikely, or if he is fined, his kickstarter campaign will turn this into a moneymaker for him courtesy of his fellow racist gakheads.

Which means he has to pay for a defense and could be found guilty. I would be concerned for his safety actually.

**Howard A Treesong**

feeder wrote:
Could be the local authorities trying to head off a potential Hebdo-style retaliation. I know if I was chief of police in this fethstain's town I would be extremely worried about that.

You don't start charging people with crimes to pacify violent extremists. This guy was an idiot, deliberatively provocative and unpleasant. But if western countries start blasphemy prosecutions to pander to islamists, years after abandoning them for christianity, then it's a problem. It's letting fear of terrorism guide our justice system instead of the rule of law.

**BobtheInquisitor**

Is he safer in jail than on the street?

If I was one of his neighbors, I might try to get him evicted or look into grounds for suing him if there is any kind of retaliation at all. But I find the idea of law enforcement charging him with a religious crime very disturbing.

**feeder**

Howard A Treesong wrote:
It's letting fear of terrorism guide our justice system instead of the rule of law.

Brother, that ship has sailed long ago.

**Henry**

jhe90 wrote:
Breotan wrote:
I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

Aye these laws are frankly archaic.
He,s being a idiot. But illegal... Urgh.

**Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl**

Repeal the laws. At least we don't have any such filth in France. I won't get in trouble with my own personal Quran burning video

.
(Link by PM I don't want to get banned)

**jhe90**

Henry wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
Breotan wrote:
I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

Aye these laws are frankly archaic.
He,s being a idiot. But illegal... Urgh.

Alas we have some laws that are similar in the UK.

**Iron_Captain**

I propose we hold a big holy book barbeque in protest.
I am a very religious person, but even I think blasphemy laws should go. Blasphemy is a crime without a victim (unless you consider God to be the victim, but I am pretty sure He doesn't need us to defend Him). Victimless crimes aren't crimes, it is simple as that.

**Steelmage99**

Let's see if he gets convicted.
Also the actual book burning took place in December of 2015.

Edit. The Danish justice department is talking about bringing the blasphemy law in question up for review.

....

**Easy E**

kronk wrote:
“Consider your neighbour: it stinks when it burns"

1/10. Didn't rhyme.

Maybe it does in Danish?

**Howard A Treesong**

jhe90 wrote:
Henry wrote:
jhe90 wrote:
Breotan wrote:
I expect so, but like you said earlier, Blasphemy laws in this day and age? This is almost as sad as that German guy who's being prosecuted for mocking the Turkish PM.

Aye these laws are frankly archaic.
He,s being a idiot. But illegal... Urgh.

Alas we have some laws that are similar in the UK.

Aye... We have alot of ainciant law on the books... Older it is harder to over rule and sometimes easier to ignore.
And given we are in the west, we have freedom.

You can do that... But any negative job related, or such things are on you too. Should be free long as your not demanding to kill all one group, rallying mobs. Ots freedom of speech. Wr may not like it but it should be free.

If you can talk.. They can talk. All is fair and free . Long as not recruiting for a terror gropip etc in violation of law etc.

Blasphemy laws were abolished in England and Wales a few years ago, not sure about Scotland. Northern Ireland still has them, typically.

**Kap'n Krump**

kronk wrote:
“Consider your neighbour: it stinks when it burns"

1/10. Didn't rhyme.

maybe it did in Danish!

**Vash108**

Well this is ridiculous. It is one of those things I can't believe is still a thing.

**Dropbear Victim**

The amount of appeasement Islam gets is pathetic. At the rate we're going, Christianity and Atheists will go the way of the Pagans.

**Peregrine**

Dropbear Victim wrote:
The amount of appeasement Islam gets is pathetic. At the rate we're going, Christianity and Atheists will go the way of the Pagans.

I too enjoy a good slippery slope fallacy.

**BobtheInquisitor**

Slippery slopes are getting so common we'll have to replace automobiles with toboggans.

**Vaktathi**

Blasphemy is still an actual charge...?

While perhaps a juvenile thing for this guy to have done, charges are absurd.

**Jehan-reznor**

As not to offend our Muslim friends, i think a friendship stoning is in order

**oldravenman3025**

Blasphemy laws on the books rub me the wrong way, regardless of the religion.

**Kilkrazy**

The USA had blasphemy laws as recently as 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_the_United_States

**Breotan**

Kilkrazy wrote:
The USA had blasphemy laws as recently as 2010.

It doesn't matter. Those laws were effectively declared unconstitutional in 1952 when the NY State law was thrown out. I expect there are many unconstitutional laws on the books that need to be boomed by various State Legislatures.

**CptJake**

Kilkrazy wrote:
The USA had blasphemy laws as recently as 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_the_United_States

Not at the Federal level, which the law in the article is the equivalent of for the Danish.