Netherlands Man Tears Up Quran in Racist Act
Dutchman Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement in the Netherlands, has torn the Quran during several demonstrations, with the latest taking place in front of Amsterdam Municipality. He shared an image of himself tearing the holy book on his social media account, stating that he did so to express his opinion. Wagensveld was questioned by the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office for insulting a group, and he stated that the best way to express his opinion is to tear the Quran again. In November, he was released without being prosecuted on the grounds that he insulted the religion itself, not members of the Islamic faith. However, Dutch authorities have now announced that a 54-year-old Dutchman living in Germany will be questioned for insulting a group due to the racist expressions he used while tearing the Quran. The suspect is summoned to the Netherlands to face justice, and it is noted that deliberately humiliating a group of people because of their religion or belief can be punished in the country, but tearing the Quran is not a crime.
