Iran Condemns Burning of Holy Qur’an in Sweden

Date: 22 January 2023 - 20:52

News ID: ۱۱۱۶۳۶

TEHRAN -- The Iranian foreign ministry has strongly condemned desecration of the Holy Qur’an in Sweden, saying the move is a clear example of hatemongering and violence against Muslims.

“The repetition of the desecration of the holy book of one and a half billion Muslims is a clear example of hatemongering and the spread of violence against all Muslims. Such actions have nothing to do with freedom of expression and opinion,” ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

He said extremist elements are unfortunately given free rein in some European countries, under the false pretext of the freedom of expression, in order to promote hatred against Islamic sanctities and values.

Kanaani said the world public opinion expects the Swedish government to prevent the recurrence of such moves against Islam and punish all those who hurt the feelings of Muslims.

According to reports, right-wing Swedish-Danish leader Rasmus Paludan received permission from his country’s government to burn the Holy Qur’an in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. He was protected by the police while committing the act.

Back in April, Paludan tried to burn a copy of the Qur’an in a heavily-populated Muslim area.

Paludan, accompanied by police, went to an open public space in the southern Swedish city of Linkoping and reportedly placed the Muslim holy book down and tried to set it on fire while ignoring protests from onlookers.

Sweden’s foreign minister Tobias Billström condemned hatred towards Muslims, but claimed that there were certain freedoms in his country.

“Islamophobic provocations are appalling,” he tweeted. “Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.”

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha also condemned in the strongest terms the vile act of burning the Holy Qur’an by far-right activists in Stockholm.

“The OIC Secretary-General warns that this provocative action

which has been committed repeatedly by far-right extremists targets Muslims, insults their sacred values, and serves as further example of the alarming level reached by Islamophobia, hate, intolerance, and xenophobia,” it said.

“The OIC Secretary-General urges the Swedish authorities to take necessary measures against the perpetrators of this hate crime.”

Taha also called for increased international efforts to prevent re-occurrence of such acts and for solidarity to fight Islamophobia.