Global fury grows over the Islamophobic act of the Quran burning outside a mosque in Sweden.

Swedish court allowed a 30-year-old Iraqi refugee to burn a Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, which coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The man said he wanted the Quran to be banned in Sweden.

The culprit has been identified as Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi who fled to Sweden several years ago.

The man in question tore up and lit pages of the Islamic holy book and set it on fire on Thursday as Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday across the globe.

The video of the shameful act has gone viral on social media. The culprit can also be seen kicking the holy book before burning it.

The stunt has sparked global anger and officials from a number of countries, including many in the Middle East, have condemned the desecration of the Quran by a man in Sweden’s capital during a protest authorized by the police.

Reactions:

Morocco

Morocco reacting to the development went beyond a statement of condemnation and recalled its ambassador to Sweden for an indefinite period.

According to state media, the kingdom’s foreign ministry also called on Sweden’s chargé d’affaires in Rabat and expressed its “strong condemnation of this attack and its rejection of this unacceptable act”

Dozens of Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday. 

The videos showing an angry mob breaking through an iron gate and climbing on top of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, have gone viral on social media.

Baghdad, Iraq.
Attack on the Swedish embassy in Iraq.
Follow for more info.#Iraq #baghdad #Sweden #Quran #quranburning #Stockholm pic.twitter.com/Y7lBkjqW2Z

— War Affairs (@Lazar2224) June 29, 2023

Iraq also summoned the Swedish ambassador to Iraq on Thursday over the incident.

The Iraqi government termed the act “racist” and “irresponsible”, adding that it condemns “the repeated acts of burning copies of the holy Koran by individuals with extremist and disturbed minds”.

“They are not only racist but also promote violence and hatred,” the Iraqi government said in a statement.

Turkey

On the other hand, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan slammed Sweden over the incident, saying that Ankara will never bow down to a policy of provocation or threat.

“We will teach the arrogant Western people that it is not freedom of expression to insult the sacred values of Muslims,” he said.

Erdogan had told Sweden’s leaders at the time, “If you do not show respect to the religious beliefs of the Republic of Turkey or Muslims, you will not receive any support for NATO from us.”

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the Quran desecration “despicable”.

“It is unacceptable to allow these anti-Islamic actions under the pretext of freedom of expression,” Fidan said in a tweet. “Turning a blind eye to such atrocious acts is to be complicit.”

Mübarek Kurban Bayramı’nın ilk gününde Kutsal Kitabımız Kur’an-ı Kerim’e yönelik #İsveç’te yapılan aşağılık eylemi lanetliyorum!#İslamkarşıtı bu eylemlere ifade özgürlüğü bahanesiyle izin verilmesi kabul edilemez.

Bu tarz menfur eylemlere göz yummak suça ortak olmaktır.

— Hakan Fidan (@HakanFidan) June 28, 2023

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian foreign ministry also condemned the burning.

“These hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification,” it said.

Jordan

On Thursday, Jordan summoned the Swedish ambassador in Amman and informed her of the country’s strong protest, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement.

The country condemned the act, calling it “racist” and an “incitement”.

“The Ministry affirmed that burning the Holy Qur’an is an act of dangerous hate, and a manifestation of Islamophobia that incites violence and insulting religions and cannot be considered a form of freedom of expression at all,” the kingdom said in a statement.

Egypt

Egypt condemned Momika’s act and termed it“shameful”, especially since it took place on Eid al-Adha.

“Egypt expresses its deep concern about the repeated incidents of burning the Holy Qur’an and the recent escalation of Islamophobia and crimes of blasphemy of religions in some European countries, affirming its total rejection of all reprehensible practices that affect the constants and religious beliefs of Muslims,” Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Qatar

Qatar in a statement issued on Thursday condemned the Swedish authorities’ permission to burn copies of the Quran, calling it a “heinous” act to have especially occurred on Eid.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that allowing repeated infringement of the Holy Qu’ran under the pretext of freedom of expression fuels hatred and violence, threatens peaceful coexistence, and reveals abhorrent double standards,” the Qatari foreign ministry said.

United States

The United States also condemned the burning, however, added that issuing the permit for the demonstration supported freedom of expression.

“We believe the demonstration created an environment of fear that will impact the ability of Muslims and members of other religious minority groups from freely exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief in Sweden,” US Department of State spokesperson Matt Miller said.

“We also believe that issuing the permit for this demonstration supports freedom of expression and is not an endorsement of the demonstration’s actions.”