Protesters Prevent Quran Desecration in the Netherlands, Police Detain Three
The police said they had given permission to far-right group PEGIDA to burn the Holy Quran, but a group of protesters tried to stop them, resulting in the cancellation of the demonstration on Saturday.
Three protesters were arrested for what was described as disobeying the police and three officers were injured in the scuffle.
Wagensveld was taken under police protection after the incident.
The mayor of Arnhem, Ahmed Marcouch, who is of Moroccan origin, said that burning a sacred book was not illegal in the Netherlands, Anadolu Agency reported.
However, he acknowledged that such an act was provocative and hurtful to many people.
In the Netherlands, mayors have the power to ban demonstrations if they pose a threat to public order.
Yildirim Usta, a council member from the Denk Party in Arnhem, condemned Marcouch for allowing PEGIDA's Quran burning.
He said PEGIDA was committing a hate crime under the pretext of free speech.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the police treatment of Muslim protesters and said he would propose stronger measures against hate crimes in the municipal council.
Wagensveld has been involved in several Quran burning incidents in the past two years.
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In 2022 and 2023, he was reported to have burned or torn the Quran in front of the temporary Dutch parliament building in The Hague and in a solo demonstration in Utrecht.
He was also arrested in Rotterdam and The Hague for trying to burn the Quran without following the demonstration rules.
In both cases, Muslim groups staged counter-demonstrations to oppose PEGIDA's actions.
Last year, Wagensveld also tore the Quran in front of Turkey's Embassy in The Hague.
Source: Agencies
