The Swedish Foreign Minister, Tobias Billström, described the anti-Islamic provocations as “horrific”, following the crime of burning a copy of the Holy Quran in the capital, Stockholm.
“The anti-Islamic provocations are appalling. Sweden has great freedom of expression, but that does not mean that the Swedish government or I myself endorse the opinions expressed,” the minister said in a tweet on Saturday.
On Saturday, the leader of the Danish far-right “hard line” party, Rasmus Paludan, burned a copy of the Qur’an near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, amid tight police protection, which prevented anyone from approaching him while he was committing a provocative act.
The incident sparked outrage among Muslims and condemnations from Arab and Islamic countries.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the incident, pointing out that this despicable act is a new indication of the disturbing level that Europe has reached in anti-Islam and racism.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed, in a statement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s “strong condemnation and denunciation of the Swedish authorities’ allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the Holy Qur’an in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Stockholm.”
TRT Arabic – Agencies
