RIYADH: Muslim-majority countries worldwide have expressed their condemnation following the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran during a protest in Sweden. The act, carried out by Salwan Momika, an Iraqi resident in Sweden, took place in front of Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday.
Nations including Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt strongly criticized the burning, and Turkey, a NATO member with influence over Sweden’s membership, referred to it as a “despicable act.” This incident follows a previous Quran burning protest that had also angered Turkey earlier this year.
Turkey, in a statement, declared that it is “unacceptable” to allow such “anti-Islamic actions” under the guise of freedom of expression. Muslims regard the Holy Quran as the sacred word of Allah and perceive any intentional damage or display of disrespect toward it as deeply offensive. The burning occurred on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, one of the most significant festivals in the Muslim calendar, which Muslims around the world were celebrating.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan stated that such willful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression and protest.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan stated that international law binds all the countries to prevent and prohibit any advocacy of “religious hatred” that leads to incitement of violence. “The recurrence of such Islamophobic incidents during the last few months in the West calls into serious question the legal framework which permits such hate-driven actions.”
Pakistan reiterated that the right to freedom of expression and opinion does not provide a license to stoke hatred and sabotage inter-faith harmony.
Sweden’s Authorities Granted Permit for Protest
Swedish authorities had granted Mr. Momika a permit for the protest, citing free-speech laws. However, the police later announced that they were investigating the incident for incitement of hatred. The protest not only triggered anger within the Muslim community but also drew international criticism. Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Stockholm and summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires in Rabat.
Iraq condemned the incident as “a reflection of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression,” while Iran labeled the burning “provocative” and “unacceptable.” Egypt described it as a “shameful” act, particularly provocative during the observance of Eid Al-Adha. Saudi Arabia, currently hosting 1.8 million worshippers for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, stated that “these hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted under any justification.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged that the Quran burning was legally permitted but deemed it inappropriate. In recent months, plans to burn copies of the Holy Quran have led to riots in Sweden. While the police had previously rejected similar protest applications, courts ruled in favor of allowing them on grounds of freedom of expression.
