Muslim-majority nations are strongly criticizing the governments of Denmark and Sweden for allowing the repeated burning of the Quran in their capitals. The most recent incident occurred in Copenhagen on Monday and has sparked outrage and condemnation around the world.
Türkiye, a predominantly Muslim country, has condemned the protest organized by an ultra-nationalist group called Danish Patriots in front of the Iraqi embassy. The Turkish foreign ministry described the protesters’ actions as “vile attacks against our holy book” and called upon the Danish authorities to take immediate measures to prevent these provocative acts.
The Iraqi government also voiced its outrage at both the Monday burning and a previous demonstration by the same group which took place on Friday. The Iraqi foreign ministry stated that these “systematic actions” expose societies to the infection of terrorism and hatred, and threaten peaceful coexistence. Last week’s event in Copenhagen, which was live-streamed on Facebook by the Danish Patriots, triggered mass protests in Baghdad. The government increased security measures and closed off bridges to the Green Zone, where several Western embassies are located.
Denmark has denied withdrawing its diplomatic staff from Baghdad but confirmed that the embassy was closed for summer holidays. However, the Iraqi ministry reported that Danish personnel left the city on the same day. The Swedish embassy in Baghdad had also been overrun by angry protesters just days earlier, in response to a Quran burning in front of the Iraqi diplomatic mission in Stockholm. In reaction, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its own representative to the country.
In addition to Turkey and Iraq, Algeria, another Muslim-majority nation, summoned the Danish ambassador and the Swedish chargé d’affaires to issue formal protests. They denounced these Quran burnings as “immoral and uncivilized acts.” Saudi Arabia, a major Muslim nation, condemned the desecrations on Sunday, before the latest incident in Denmark occurred. The Saudi government stated that these acts incite hatred and violence between religions.
Even long-standing rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran have found common ground in condemning these Quran burnings. Tehran summoned the Danish ambassador on Sunday to express their condemnation of any defiling of Islamic sanctities anywhere in the world. They emphasized the importance of protecting religious symbols and respecting all faiths.
Critics argue that these politically-charged Quran burnings in Europe are an abuse of freedom of expression, as they deliberately aim to incite hatred and provoke religious tensions. The Muslim community is urging governments to take stronger measures to prevent such acts in order to protect religious harmony and foster understanding among different religious groups.
The international community awaits further actions and responses from the governments of Denmark and Sweden as the condemnation continues to grow. It is crucial for these nations to address this issue seriously and take appropriate steps to ensure that incidents like these do not occur in the future, as they not only endanger peaceful coexistence but also fuel animosity between different religions.
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