Dutch Quran tearing leads to tensions

22-08-2023

Western Europe

The Turkish Foreign Ministry is upset. In the Netherlands, the Quran was torn apart in public. To show his dissatisfaction, he summoned the Dutch deputy ambassador to his office.

Last Friday, the Dutch Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the far-right Pegida organisation, desecrated a Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in The Hague, Euractiv writes.

The deputy ambassador was told that Turkey worries about the continuous desecration of the Quran and strongly condemns such actions. In response, the Dutchman told the Turkish government that the Netherlands sees the desecration of the Quran as a "totally tasteless" and "deliberately provocative and offensive action". However, he added that it is up to the court to decide whether the law has been broken and not up to the government.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (L) speaks as Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer listens during a press conference about the security policy and measures to protect Swedish citizens, in Stockholm. Following the recent Koran burnings, the government is considering ramping up internal security and border controls, without restricting freedom of expression. Photo EPA, Caisa Rasmussen

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Complaint

The Quran action led to a counter-protest organised by a leftist Dutch political party, DENK. The party condemned Wagensveld's actions, and some protestors threw stones at the Pegida leader. DENK leader Stephan Van Baarle stated that he would submit a complaint against the mayor of The Hague for allowing the protest.

The Dutch Justice Minister, Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius, who has Turkish roots herself, called the Quran tearing "pathetic and primitive" but added that it is legal in the Netherlands to do so.

Pakistani traders shout slogans as they attend a protest against the burning of a copy of the Koran in Sweden. An Iraqi refugee living in Sweden set fire to a copy of the Koran during a protest in front of a mosque in Stockholm on 28 June 2023. Photo EPA, Arshad Arbab

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Upheaval

The action has also led to international upheaval. Pakistan condemned the "very provocative" incident on Sunday. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs argues that deliberately damaging the Quran hurts all Muslims worldwide.

The country emphasises that the Netherlands has the duty to prevent "hateful and Islamophobic actions."

Group insult

It is not the first time that Pegida leader Edwin Wagensveld has been the centre of controversy. He has to appear before a police court because he is accused of group insult. The subpoena is a consequence of Wagensveld's Quran tearing in January.