In a statement, Mr Hummelgaard said that the Quran burning provocations have no other purpose than to spread hatred and that such acts risk damaging Denmark, Danish interests and the security of Danes abroad and at home.

Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said: "Earlier today, I presented our draft law prohibiting the inappropriate treatment of objects of religious significance to a faith community. The draft law provides for the criminalisation of the public burning of, for example, the Koran, the Bible or the Torah. The bill will only target acts committed in a public place or with the intention of spreading to a wider environment."

Hummelgaard emphasised that there is already a provision in the Danish penal code that criminalises the defamation of the flags of other countries for foreign policy and security reasons, and that they will propose that this new bill be adopted with the same provision. The Justice Minister emphasised that there are many other ways of freedom of expression that do not involve the burning of religious symbols.  

On the other hand, the Charge d'Affaires of the Danish Embassy in Ankara was summoned for the 6th time today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey for the continued provocations of the burning of the Holy Quran.