Taliban’s ministry of foreign affairs has condemned burning of the Quran in Sweden, demanding the Swedish government “punish the perpetrators.”
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the burning of the Quran in Sweden and call on the Swedish government to punish the perpetrator and prevent such individuals from engaging in such vile and provocative anti-Islamic acts,” the group’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan gave an hour-long speech against Islam and immigration outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm to a crowd of about a 100 before burning a copy of the Quran, reports the Guardian.
The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has condemned the act, saying that “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.
“I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today.”
Several Muslim countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey, have condemned burning of the Quran.
“Saudi Arabia calls for spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, and rejects hatred and extremism,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
And the Turkish foreign ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara yesterday, demanding the protest to be prevented from taking place. The Turkish foreign minister called it a “hate crime.”
