Quran desecrated in Netherlands

By Abdullah Asiran

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AA) - A far-right Dutch politician and leader of the PEGIDA Islamophobic group, tore apart a copy of the Quran on Saturday in Amsterdam.

Edwin Wagensveld shared footage of his provocation in front of the Amsterdam Municipality on social media.

Mentioning that he was investigated for insulting a group while tearing up the Quran, Wagensveld said tearing apart the Quran again is how he can best express his opinion.

He tore up the Quran in front of the temporary Dutch parliament building Jan. 22 in The Hague while under police protection. He did it again Feb. 13 in Utrecht.

Despite Muslim groups warning that PEGIDA would burn the Quran, the demonstration was not prohibited, prompting a counter-protest by the Muslim community.

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service said Friday that an unidentified male suspect will be questioned for using racist expressions while tearing up the Quran.

Media reports said the suspect may be Wagensveld.

An official statement said the suspect, 54, who resided in Germany, tore up the Quran in front of the Dutch parliament in The Hague on Jan. 22, while saying things such as: "The Quran is a fascist book. Just as bad as (Hitler’s biography) Mein Kampf. Its followers are pursuing the same ideology as Hitler."