Demonstration in support of Turkey near the Swedish embassy in Ankara
Arab and Islamic countries condemned the burning of a copy of the Qur’an during a demonstration in Sweden.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation said the move was “a provocative act targeting Muslims and insulting their sacred values”.
Right-wing politician Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Koran during a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.
Criticism was issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council. Saudi Arabia stressed “the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and rejecting hatred and extremism.”
The UAE also announced its rejection of “all practices that aim to destabilize security and stability, in contradiction with human and moral values and principles.”
Kuwait urged the international community to stop “such unacceptable acts, renounce all forms of hatred and extremism, and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Egypt warned of the dangers of “the spread of such acts that offend religions and fuel hate speech and violence.”
“Unacceptable”
Turkey described the burning of a copy of the Koran as “despicable” behavior, and said that the Swedish government’s decision to allow the demonstration was “totally unacceptable.”
After the demonstration was announced, Turkey canceled the visit of Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson, saying that the visit had “lost its importance and meaning.”
The Swedish Defense Minister’s visit was scheduled after about a week at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, and aimed at overcoming Ankara’s objections to Sweden’s attempt to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström described the “anti-Islamic provocations” as “appalling”.
“Sweden enjoys widespread freedom of expression, but it does not mean that the Swedish government, or I myself, support the views expressed,” he said.
Fahrettin Altun, chief media adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, urged Sweden to “act immediately” against hate-filled provocations.
He said on Twitter: “The Swedish authorities must wake up to the fact that terrorist groups are determined to prevent Sweden’s membership in NATO, by poisoning their relations with us.”
And the Swedish police allowed the organization of the demonstration after deeming it in line with the country’s freedom of expression law.
But a spokesman for Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin said that allowing the demonstration “encourages hate crimes and anti-Islam sentiments.”
On Saturday, he tweeted, “The attack on sacred values is not freedom, but contemporary barbarism.”
