I’ve never burned a religious text, and I have no intention of starting now. It is a provocative act, far more likely to arouse fury than to further sincere dialogue between believers and non-believers. But if we wish to live in a society with freedom of speech and religion, as free-thinking individuals we should surely have the right to reject the teachings of any religion or other ideology by destroying its symbols—even if that is offensive to believers of that religion. 

Salwan Momika—an atheist Iraqi asylum seeker living in Sweden—was put on trial in 2023 for “agitation against an ethnic or national group” over his public burnings of the Quran, events at which he was physically attacked by some Muslim individuals who were incensed at his actions. But the verdict in his case will never be heard. On 29 January, Momika was shot to death in an apparent act of revenge for his desecrations of the Quran.

The Quran teaches that those who desecrate its words and mock the faith will not go unpunished, whether in this world or the next. According to Surah Al-Ahzab (33:57–61), those who insult Allah will face divine retribution; Surah At-Tawbah (9:61–66) warns of severe consequences for those who ridicule Islam or Mohammed. Historically, these punishments have sometimes been administered by Islamic states and sometimes by zealous individuals who see themselves as executing divine justice.