Sweden Quran burning sparks anger across the Muslim world. Several Muslim-majority countries have denounced the protest burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden.
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi resident in Sweden, is claimed to have set fire to a copy of the Muslim Quran in front of Stockholm’s prominent mosque on Wednesday.
Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have all sharply condemned the burning.
Turkey, a Nato member with veto power over Sweden’s admission, termed it a “despicable act.”
Turkey, which was similarly enraged by a Quran-burning rally earlier this year, said it was “unacceptable” to let such “anti-Islamic actions” take place “under the guise of freedom of expression.”
Muslims regard the Quran as God’s sacred word and consider any intentional damage or disrespect to it to be profoundly insulting.
On Wednesday, Muslims around the world observed the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.
As Sweden Quran burning sparks anger across the Muslim world, In compliance with free-speech rights, Swedish police granted Mr. Momika a permit for the protest. However, authorities later stated that the incident was being probed for incitement of hatred.
Other countries were also outraged by the protest.
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Morocco has summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires in Rabat and recalled its ambassador to Stockholm.
The incident was described by Iraq as “a reflection of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression.”
Iran mirrored Iraq’s criticism, calling the act of burning the Quran “provocative” and “unacceptable,” while Egypt called it a “shameful” act, especially as Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha.
Saudi Arabia, which is hosting over 1.8 million pilgrims on the annual Hajj trip this week, stated that “these hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that burning the Quran was “legal but inappropriate.”
In recent months, plans to burn copies of the Quran have triggered riots in Sweden.
Similar protest applications were recently refused by police, but judges determined that they should be permitted to proceed.
