DENMARK - Burning of the Quran
Protesters set fire to a copy of the Quran outside the Iraqi Embassy in Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen, drawing condemnation from Iraq and other Muslim-majority countries.
It was the second time in just a few days protesters from an ultranationalist group called Danish Patriots burned the Quran, following similar acts by different groups in neighboring Sweden.
The acts have set off public protests in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan and elsewhere.
Swedish and Danish officials have condemned the desecration of the Quran but allowed such actions to go forward under the countries’ freedom of expression and right to protest laws.
The day after the Quran burning in Copenhagen, hundreds of protesters in Iraq tried to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone, a heavily guarded area that houses foreign embassies and Iraqi government buildings. In the Iraqi city of Basra, demonstrators attacked facilities of the Danish Refugee Council, an aid group.
-www.npr.org, 24 July 2023
Arno's Commentary
While European governments condemned the burning of Qurans under the leadership of the “Danish People’s Party,” right-wing populist political parties are on the rise in several European countries. During the 2014 European Parliament elections in Denmark, the
party secured 27% of the vote. However, in the meantime, support for the party has declined down to 8.7% during the 2019 Danish general election. Under “ideology,” Wikipedia writes about Denmark: “Danish nationalism, right-wing populism, hard Euroscepticism.”
While nationalistic movements have sprung up in many countries around the world, the future of this nationalistic spirit will not succeed, for Bible prophecy clearly points to a rise in the spirit of unity.
Of the spirit of Antichrist, Daniel writes: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done” (Daniel 11:36). Revelation 13 speaks of this unifying personality whom “all the world” will praise, and verse 7b states, “power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” What does the world do? “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him” (Revelation 13:8a). That is future, but in preparation today.
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
