Anders Lindberg, political editor-in-chief at Aftonbladet, believes that Denmark’s proposal for a ban on burning religious scriptures in public places is the right way to go.
– I consider Koran burnings to be racism, and I am against racism, he says.
Sakine Madon, political editor-in-chief at Uppsala new newspaper, is against a ban, which she believes would mean blasphemy legislation. She brings up the example of the Iranian-born woman who shredded a Koran outside the Iranian embassy in Copenhagen earlier in August.
– If she were to do it again, would she risk two years in prison? I think that speaks for who you turn your back on, says Sakine Madon.
Hate crime or criticism of religion
Anders Lindberg advocates including a ban on burning religious scriptures in the law on incitement against ethnic groups.
– It is not criticism of religion to burn the Koran wrapped in bacon in front of a congregation. It is incitement, he says.
Sakine Madon points out that the law on ethnic incitement does not include religions, which she thinks is a good thing.
– Islam is the world’s second largest religion. It is not kicking down to criticize religion in itself, she says.
Denmark’s proposal for a ban
The debaters also disagree about what Denmark’s proposal entails. Anders Lindberg believes that it is about preventing hate speech towards Muslims, while Sakine Madon interprets the Danish proposal as the Danish government feeling threatened by Muslim countries.
– Sweden is left alone with a line I think is quite absurd. Denmark’s decision shows that it is entirely possible for a liberal democracy to do this, says Anders Lindberg.
– Fortunately, there are other countries that have landed right in this matter, so I hope that it is not over for Sweden. The problem is that the Islamists’ wish list is long, so we will not get rid of the conflict if we try to meet them, says Sakine Madon.