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The burning of copies of the Muslim holy book was carried out by the Danish anti-Islamic group, Stram Kurs. A month ago, a similar action took place in Malmo, Sweden. (Read: Anti-Islamic Group Burns the Qur’an in the Swedish Capital)
“We condemn the immodesty of the racist barbarian groups by burning our holy book, the Koran, in Stockholm, the Swedish capital,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The burning of the copy of the Koran took place during an illegal demonstration by the Stram Kurs group in the Muslim community area of Rinkeby, Stockholm. (Read: Rasmus Paludan, Anti-Islamic Politician Brain Burning the Koran in Sweden)
The group, led by Rasmus Paludan, a day earlier requested permission from the local police to burn copies of the Muslim holy book, but the application for permission was refused. The next day, they were determined to come and carry out the planned action, then left before any unwanted commotion occurred.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry appreciated Sweden’s positive steps in not allowing Stram Kurs to commit blasphemy of the holy book. However, Ankara regrets that the group’s provocative actions could not be prevented. (Read: Norwegian PM Defends Defamation of the Koran as Freedom of Speech)
“And these sick people continue to benefit from it,” the ministry said, as reported by the news agencyAnatolia, Friday (11/9/2020).
“Unfortunately, disrespect for Islam has become widespread and unavoidable in Scandinavian countries in recent years under the guise of freedom of the press, art and expression,” the ministry added, referring to a series of incidents of defamation of the Qur’an in Sweden, Denmark. and Norway.
“We expect the Swedish authorities as well as all countries with cases of racism and Islamophobia to take all steps to fight this disease both within the framework of European institutions and at the national level,” urged the ministry. (Also read: Sheikh Al Azhar Called Burning the Koran an Action of Terrorism)
The head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, Ali Erbas, also criticized the burning of the Koran in Stockholm. “I strongly condemn the incessant and provocative attacks on our holy Qur’an by anti-Islamic racists in Stockholm, the Swedish capital,” he said.
Erbas said it was worrying that the groups continued to attack Muslims in different European cities.
“I hope that this sick-thinking activity which threatens all humanity will end soon, and I invite the international community to fight consciously against these thoughts,” he said.
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