‘Islamophobic act’: Swedish authorities condemns Quran burning

By India Today World Desk: Sweden has condemned the latest incident of a person burning of the Quran exterior Stockholm’s foremost mosque and stated that it was an “Islamophobic” act. The Swedish overseas ministry stated that these acts didn’t mirror the views of the Swedish authorities.

The assertion got here after a name by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for collective motion to forestall related incidents sooner or later.

In the assertion, the Swedish overseas ministry additionally stated that they have been conscious of and understood the “offence” brought on to Muslims by “Islamophobic acts” carried out by individuals throughout demonstrations within the nation.

“The Swedish Government totally understands that the Islamophobic acts dedicated by people at demonstrations in Sweden may be offensive to Muslims,” the foreign ministry said in the statement, as per news agency AFP.

After an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, 37, stomped on the Islamic holy book and set several pages on fire, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting at its headquarters in Jeddah to address the incident.

ALSO READ | Iraqi protesters storm Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad over Quran burning

Following the meeting, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation urged member states to take unified and collective measures to prevent the desecration of the Quran.

The Swedish foreign ministry echoed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s sentiments, declaring that burning the Quran or any other holy text is offensive, disrespectful, and a clear provocation.

“The burning of the Quran, or any other holy text, is an offensive and disrespectful act and a clear provocation. Expressions of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Sweden or in Europe,” the Swedish authorities stated.

However, the ministry additionally acknowledged that Sweden upholds the constitutionally protected proper to freedom of meeting, expression, and demonstration.

(With inputs from AFP)