Pakistan has appreciated the Denmark government’s decision to ban the desecration of the Holy Quran after a series of such incidents in a couple of Nordic countries triggered protests in Muslim countries.

“Pakistan appreciates the Danish govt’s proposed legislation to criminalise improper treatment of religious texts and objects of significant importance, including the Holy Quran,” interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani wrote on X on Saturday.

His tweet came after Denmark said it plans to ban the desecration of the Holy Quran. The government would present a bill that would “prohibit the inappropriate treatment of objects of significant religious importance to a religious community,” Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told reporters.

Jilani wrote on social media that he had a welcome exchange with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who reiterated the Danish government’s commitment to respecting such religious sensitivities.

“Looking forward to working closely with him to advance our common interests.”

According to Denmark’s foreign minister, Quran desecration was a “fundamentally contemptuous and unsympathetic act” that “harm Denmark and its interests”.

The new legislation would be included in chapter 12 of Denmark’s penal code, which covers national security. Hummelgaard said that national security was the main “motivation” for the ban.

The legislation will also apply to desecrations of the Bible, the Torah or, for example, a crucifix. Those who break the law risk a fine and two years in prison.

Later, the foreign office released a statement in which it welcomed the development.

“Pakistan welcomes the reported decision by the Denmark Government to propose a bill, which would outlaw the burning of the Holy Quran and other divine books. This, we believe, is a step in the right direction,” said the Foreign Office.

The statement added that Pakistan has always maintained that desecration and burning of holy scriptures constitute a serious act of religious hatred, which must not be permitted under the guise of freedom of expression, opinion and protest. As stipulated by international human rights law and called for by the UN Human Rights Council, such provocative acts must be prevented and prohibited through legal means.

“The recurrent incidents of the Holy Quran’s desecration during the last few months have hurt the sentiments of over 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide,” it said and added that such abhorrent acts intend to create friction among communities and harm inter-faith harmony and mutual respect. “It is the responsibility of national governments to take all measures necessary to prevent these acts of religious hatred, xenophobia and Islamophobia.”

The FO expressed hope that the step taken by Denmark would culminate in effective legislation to curb the desecration of the Holy Quran and other divine books. “We also hope that other countries will emulate and undertake similar steps to outlaw such hateful acts.”

It also mentioned the telephonic interaction between the two foreign ministers.