Netherlands: Pegida Leader Tears Up Quran in front of Turkish embassy, ​​Violent Muslims Held Back by Police (Video)

The Hague, Netherlands – The fervor surrounding an anti-Sharia activist’s daring action of tearing up the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in The Hague has ignited a far-reaching and passionate global dialogue. At the heart of this conversation lies the clash between freedom of expression, the assertion of Islamic supremacism, and the replacement of the rule of law by Sharia in Western societies, often backed and made possible by left-wing leaders.

Powerful Protest

Edwin Wagensveld, the leader of the Dutch arm of the anti-Islamic-Supremacist movement “Pegida,” staged a protest outside the Turkish embassy that stirred intense anger from Islamic supremacists and their accomplices. Wearing a black T-shirt with the words “Islam is no better than Nazism,” Wagensveld and two others gathered to demonstrate against Islam.

The Dutch authorities had voiced their disapproval of the demonstration before it occurred but acknowledged their legal constraints in preventing it from taking place.

In an interview with Wagensveld about his demonstration, he was asked, “Some people would say that tearing up the Quran is provocative. And that it has nothing to do with demonstrations. What do you think about that?”

He replied, “I think that when we agreed that there is a burqa ban on public transport and people still go on public transport with a burqa, that is also provocative. It’s always just because people are afraid of that image. The media don’t want to broadcast that image. That’s the problem. We want to put pressure on governments. Because it’s not the Quran that’s the problem. The reaction is the problem. And the reaction comes from twenty years of bad policy. We have brought in people who demand respect but who don’t have respect for our laws and rules.”

Violent Reaction

During the demonstration, Wagensveld took a decisive step that enraged Islamic onlookers. He trampled on and tore up a copy of the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The act unfolded as around 50 counter-protesters gathered near the Turkish embassy, expressing their strong objection to Wagensveld’s actions. Many reacted by throwing stones and trying to harm him, prompting police intervention.

Clashes and Police Response

Tensions escalated as Wagensveld continued to tear pages from the Quran. Counter-protesters responded by chanting the familiar Islamic war cry “Allahu Akbar” and trying to attack him. Approximately 20 police officers intervened, using shields and batons to prevent physical confrontations and ensure the safety of Wagensveld and the officers.

Domestic and Global Responses

The incident triggered swift and diverse reactions both within the Netherlands and beyond its borders. Dilan Yesilgoz, the Turkish-born justice minister of the Netherlands, labeled the Quran’s desecration as “fairly primitive and pathetic.” However, she reiterated that the country’s legal framework did not allow banning such demonstrations, even if they were deemed offensive.

This isn’t Wagensveld’s first controversial action. He faces trial for remarks made during a prior protest where he likened the Quran to Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” and tore up a copy of the holy book. Geert Wilders, leader of another conservative party, expressed support for Pegida’s demonstration, intensifying the ongoing debate surrounding the incident.

International Diplomatic Impact

In response to the Quran’s desecration, the Islamic government of Turkey summoned the Dutch deputy ambassador in Ankara to express their anger and condemn the continued disrespect toward the Quran. The Netherlands’ response highlighted the tension between freedom of expression and Sharia law. As reported at RAIR Foundation USA, this issue has caused friction between Turkey and other Western countries in similar circumstances.

Global Implications and Public Outcry

Instances of Quran desecration have sparked violent outrage in various Muslim-majority nations, leading to heightened tensions and even raised terror threat levels. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz noted the potential for increased terror threats within the Netherlands due to such actions.

The incident’s impact has extended to Pakistan, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the deliberate damage to the Quran as hurtful to Muslims worldwide. Pakistan urged the Netherlands to prevent such “hateful and Islamophobic acts,” stressing that international law requires nations to prevent incitement to hate. However, many point to the fact that the Qur’an itself is nothing but incitement to hate non-Muslims.

Meanwhile, in Islamic Pakistan, Christians are being hunted in the streets and their homes after Christian Salim Masih was accused of blaspheming the Qur’an. Muslim Mobs have been ransacking and burning churches, Christian cemeteries, and Christian homes for days.

Islamic Pakistan

A Christian man Salim Masih has been accused of blaspheming Qur’an, so Muslim Mobs are ransacking and burning churches, Christian cemeteries, and Christian homes.

The anger is said to have been fueled by Muslim clerics whipping up mobs to attack Christians… pic.twitter.com/ZX9XDBoLNH

— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) August 16, 2023

Legal Ramifications

Wagensveld’s previous and current actions have landed him in legal trouble, facing charges of “insulting” an ethnic group due to his derogatory comments and actions concerning the Quran. The incident has sparked debates about freedom of expression and the West’s adherence to Islamic law.

face instances of being killed, being oppressed, and significantly abused in Islamic countries. 

Meanwhile, as the Netherlands grapples with concerns about hurting Muslims’ sentiments due to the desecration of a book they find hateful, non-Muslims continue to face instances of being killed, oppressed, and significantly abused in Islamic countries. As Geert Wilders aptly pointed out on social media, “Islamic governments express outrage over the burning of Qurans, yet they remain notably silent and indifferent to the brutal violence perpetrated against women, apostates, non-believers, Christians, homosexuals, Jews, and Hindus within the Islamic world. This stark hypocrisy is truly barbaric!”