{{Short description|Improper treatment of Islam's holy book}} [[File:Quran burning by Salwan Momika in 2023 (11 av 18).jpg|thumb|Salwan Momika burning the Quran]] [[File:Rasmus Paludan burning the Koran 2023-01-21 (2).jpg|thumb|Rasmus Paludan burning a translation of the Quran]] {{Quran}} {{islamophobia}}
'''Quran desecration''' is the treatment of the Quran in a way that is intended to be insulting or blasphemous.{{cn|date=September 2025}}
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, intentional damage to copies is considered blasphemous 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>
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.<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, Adil Salahi, ''Arab News'', Jeddah</ref> Saudi Arabia, for instance, destroys Qurans that fall short of state standards by burning to avoid soiling the pages.<ref name=weekly>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20050525014417/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/642eforh.asp Dissing the Koran]'', 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>
The intentional desecration of a copy of the Quran is punishable by imprisonment in Algeria, Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela and fines in South Korea and the United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-02 |title=Hamit Coskun fined after burning a copy of the Quran in London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9v4e0z9r8o |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> following criminal prosecution. It is also punishable by death in Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen and up to life imprisonment in Bangladesh, Mauritania, Nigeria and Pakistan.<ref name=Reut/><ref name=BBC/>
==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" Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an, Vol. 4, Brill</ref> a large number of pre-1924 Qurans were destroyed by dumping them in the river Nile.<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=Abingdon, Oxfordshire|publisher=Routledge|chapter=Introduction: Qur'anic Studies and its Controversies|pages=[https://archive.org/details/quranitshistoric00reyn/page/n17 1–26]|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 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pentagon Details Abuse Of Koran|newspaper=The Washington Post|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>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-admits-abuses-to-qur-an-in-guantanamo-1.537573 U.S. admits abuses to Quran in Guantanamo].</ref> 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.<ref name=Reut/>
===2010 Dove World Quran-burning controversy=== {{main|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesian Muslims Protest Plans to Burn Quran on September 11|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/indonesian-muslims-protest-plans-to-burn-koran-on-september-11-102250384/125212.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 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.<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 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|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.<ref>''[https://news.yahoo.com/afghans-protest-report-korans-desecrated-u-074108214.html]'', Reuters, February 21, 2012, retrieved February 21, 2012</ref> 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.<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[1]{{!}}chinadaily.com.cn|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-02/23/content_14677857.htm|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://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=AlJazeera}}</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 mosque where she worked as a religious teacher,<ref name=guardian/> about his practice of selling charms at the Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque, 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 Afghanistan turned to shock and anger.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Jack|title=Afghans Protest Brutal Mob Killing of 'Innocent' Woman|url=https://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 women in Afghanistan.<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 Taif, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia.<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 Khaybar.<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=== [[File:Rasmus Paludan burning quran in 2019.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=0:51|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.<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=Folketing|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 ''Stram Kurs'' and party leader Rasmus Paludan 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 Muhammad 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=Reuters}}</ref>
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.<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 Stop Islamisation of Norway 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|archive-date=13 February 2023|access-date=29 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213093613/https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/norge/2020/08/29/195701828/sian-profil-rev-i-stykker-koranen-foran-motdemonstrantene-ble-lagt-i-bakken|url-status=dead}}</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}} [[File:Quran burning by Salwan Momika in 2023 (9 av 18).jpg|thumb|Salwan Momika burning a Quran with Spanish tafsir and translation{{efn|''El Corán en árabe y español con Tafsir y Traducción'', {{ISBN|9798360654230}}.}} 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.<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, 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.<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 incitement to ethnic or racial hatred. This, however, does not apply to critique of religion, which is explicitly protected in the Swedish constitution, or desecration against a religion as such. It only applies to negative statements against people based on having a specified religion.<ref>[https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/tryckfrihetsforordning-1949105_sfs-1949-105/#K7 Tryckfrihetsförordning (1949:105) 7 kap 6 §]</ref>
Whilst Momika was subject to hate-crime charges, he was assassinated the day before the verdict was due to be released. Possibly in a religious killing motivated by his Quran burning activities. This caused all charges against him to be dropped.<ref>{{cite web|title=Man who burned Quran 'shot dead in Sweden'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdx2wqpg7zo|website=BBC News|access-date=30 January 2025}}</ref> The killing was described by professor of civil law Mårten Schultz as a significant failure for Sweden's rule of law, if the murder motive was his critique of islam. He argued that Sweden's freedom of expression would be meaningless if it is not protected. "It is particularly tragic if he was murdered due to exercising the far-reaching freedoms of expression we have in Sweden."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-01-30|title=Schultz om Momika: Då är det ett misslyckande|url=https://www.tv4.se/artikel/6wUL8mcbKfhT95svqVfoqR/marten-schultz-da-aer-det-ett-stort-misslyckande|access-date=2026-01-03|website=tv4.se|language=sv}}</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 Iraq and Sweden, with condemnation{{clarify|date=August 2023}} from several countries, including the U.S. and the UNAOC.<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 February 17, 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|access-date=20 February 2024|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220144645/https://www.gzt.com/video/jurnalist/isvecin-baskenti-stockholmde-bir-kadin-kuran-i-kerim-yakti-2234160|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== 2025 – London === On 13 February 2025 Hamit Coşkun was attacked by Moussa Kadri with a knife for burning the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/man-attacked-burning-quran-outside-34686437 |title=Man attacked unlike what some media outlets claimed his name appears not to be Turkish so he was most likely not Turkish, while burning the Quran outside Turkish consulate in London |date=15 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |newspaper=Irish Star |first=Lauren |last=Peacock}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-842173 |title=Man attacked with knife after burning Quran near Turkish consulate in London |date=14 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |newspaper=JPost}}</ref> Coskun was charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence and pleaded not guilty, and Kadri was charged with causing bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gbnews.com/news/koran-burning-turkish-embassy-london-charged-knifeman |title=Man who 'burned Koran outside Turkish embassy in London' charged despite getting attacked by knifeman |first=Susanna |last=Siddell |date=15 February 2025 |access-date=18 February 2025 |work=GB News}}</ref>
=== 2025 – Texas === On 26 August 2025 Valentina Gomez, a Republican congressional candidate in Texas, sparked outrage after posting a video on X showing her burning a copy of the Quran, captioned "I will end Islam in Texas so help me God."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/i-will-end-islam-trump-supporter-sparks-outrage-with-quran-burning-video-watch-f5nwu2xz |title='I will end Islam': Trump supporter sparks outrage with Quran-burning video |date=26 August 2025 |access-date=27 August 2025 |work=Mathrubhumi}}</ref> The incident drew condemnation from Muslim advocacy groups, political leaders, and social media users. Gomez has previously engaged in provocative stunts targeting Muslims, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities.
===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.<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>[https://www.dailysabah.com/religion/2016/03/04/seeking-a-miracle-on-pakistans-quran-mountain "Seeking a miracle on Pakistan's Quran mountain"] ''Daily Sabah.'' March 4, 2016</ref>
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".<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=Times of Malta|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>
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".<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=TRT World |language=en}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==See also== *Bible desecration *Criticism of the Quran *Attempted imitations of the Quran *Desecration *Host desecration *List of blasphemy cases in Pakistan
==References== {{Refbegin}} <small>[s]</small> - The major sources about punishment are: <ref name="Reut"> "Newsweek says Koran desecration report is wrong", David Morgan, Reuters (Washington, DC), 15 May 2005. </ref><ref name="BBC"> "BBC NEWS | South Asia | Riots over US Koran 'desecration'", BBC.com, 11 May 2005, webpage: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4535491.stm BBC-491]. </ref><ref name="Per">"Six Christians killed in Pakistan over Koran 'insult' ", Persecutionbd.org, August 2009, webpage: [http://www.persecutionbd.org/news/six-christians-killed-in-pakistan-over-koran-insult/ Persec-insult] {{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== * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8324869.stm Afghan protest over 'burnt Koran'], BBC, 25 October 2009.
Category:Quran-related controversies Category:Anti-Islam sentiment Category:Counter-jihad Category:Articles containing video clips