Quran burning an ‘Islamophobic act’: Sweden condemns after OIC’s reaction

New Delhi: Swedish foreign ministry said the incident of burning the Quran outside the mosque in Stochholm does not reflect the views the government.

Sweden termed it as an ‘Islamophobic’ act by a man during a demonstration the other day, which sparked widespread protest around the world.

Sweden came out openly condemning the act after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) pressed for collective action against such incidents happening in the future.

‘The Swedish Government fully understands that the Islamophobic acts committed by individuals at demonstrations in Sweden can be offensive to Muslims’, the foreign ministry reportedly stated.

Reports said that 37-year-old Salwan Momika, an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, set afire several pages of the Quran after stomping on it as people watched.

Following the act the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation huddled at its headquarters in Jeddah to discuss the incident and asked members states to take ‘collective measures’ to stop similar acts.

The Swedish authorities quickly reacted saying that burning of the Quran was an offensive, and disrespectful.

‘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 government reportedly said.

The ministry nevertheless made it clear that it upholds right to freedom of assembly, expression, and demonstration.