Facts about Quran Burning in Sweden, Triggers Anger in Muslim World

VIVA – Recently, an act of Quran burning occurred during an anti-Turkish protest in Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. An activist named Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Quran near the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm City.

It is known that Paludan is the leader of Denmark's right-wing Stram Kurs (Hardline) party. In the permit he obtained from the police, Paludan made the protest against Islam to criticize NATO, Turkey, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for affecting freedom of expression in Sweden.

The act of Quran burning also sparked reactions from various parties. Here are some facts about this tragic accident in Sweden. 

1. United Nations curses Quran burning in Sweden

A high representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations condemned the burning of the Muslim holy book by Swedish-Danish right-wing politicians as a "heinous act".

Rasmus Paludan, leader of Denmark's hardline right-wing political party, staged the action outside the Turkish embassy in Sweden under local police protection.

"While the High Representative emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of expression as a human right, she also stressed that the act of burning the Quran is an expression of hatred towards Muslims," UN spokesman Miguel Angel Moratinos said in a statement as quoted from the Aljazeera.

"It is disrespectful and insulting to adherents of Islam and should not be conflated with freedom of expression," the statement added.

Moratinos, who heads a UN agency that describes itself as "devoted to promoting understanding across diverse communities", said he was concerned about the rise of "discrimination, intolerance, and violence directed against members of many other religions and communities in various parts of the world." He called for the building of "mutual respect" among Muslim. 

He called for the building of "mutual respect" and the promotion of "inclusive and peaceful societies rooted in human rights and dignity for all".

2. Cursed by several countries

Shortly after Paludan burned a copy of the Quran, Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, condemned Swedish authorities for failing to ban the protest, "It was a racist act. This is not about freedom of expression," he said.

Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait also condemned the action as well as other Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan and Somalia.

"Allowing hateful acts that insult the sanctity and values of Islam is unacceptable. This is nothing but a demagogic practice that promoted hatred and racism and supports the agenda of extremism and terrorism,” Somalia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

3. the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Response

The action made the Indonesian government strongly condemn the act of Quran burning carried out by Swedish-Danish right-wing extremists in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.

"Indonesia strongly condemns the burning of the Holy Quran by Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish politician, in Stockholm," said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its official account on Twitter on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

The minister said that this action was blasphemy of the holy book and hurt and tarnished the tolerance of various people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that freedom of speech should be carried out responsibly.

4. Turkish Muslims outraged

Anger over the Quran burning protest in Sweden resulted in a second day of protests in Turkey, reflecting tensions between the two countries. Around 250 people gathered outside the Swedish Consulate in Istanbul, where a picture of Danish anti-Muslim activist Rasmus Paludan was burned.

Paludan burned Muslim holy books outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday, sparking protests in Istanbul and Ankara that night. Participants in Sunday's event carried green flags displaying proclamations of the Islamic faith and banners reading "We condemn Sweden's state-backed Islamophobia."

A sign in the window of the Swedish Consulate read, "We do not share the views of the idiot who burned the book."

The protests have renewed concerns about Turkey holding up Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO.

Turkish officials criticized Sweden for allowing the Qur'an burning protest, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not comment on it during his weekend speech. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted Saturday night that freedom of expression is essential to democracy but added that "what is legal is not necessarily appropriate."

"Quran burning that is sacred to many people is a very disrespectful act. I would like to express my sympathy for all Muslims who were offended by what happened in Stockholm today," Kristersson said.

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23 Desember 2024