Gov't strongly condemns burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden

The government of Maldives has strongly condemned the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden, coinciding with the Holy day of Eid-Al-Adha Muslims across the globe celebrate.

An individual named Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden, which the government of Maldives has condemned.

In a statement publicized on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the recurrence of this deeply despicable and disrespectful act hurts the religious sentiments of millions of Muslims across the world.

The ministry stressed that the act simply cannot be justified on the grounds of freedom of speech and expression, adding that these appalling acts of islamophobia undermine the collective endeavors by nations to uphold the principles of tolerance and coexistence.

This said, the government of Maldives reiterated its call to end such abhorrent acts against Islam.

Many countries across the globe have been condemning the act which fuels violence as well as hate speech and is deemed no different than an act of terrorism.

In late January, leader of the far-right political party Stram Kurs, Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden, after which it came under fire with many countries across the globe condemning the act that has provoked the emotions of the Muslim communities across the globe and incited grief in their hearts.

Stockholm authorities allowed Paludan to burn a copy of the Holy Quran in the middle of protests outside the Embassy of Turkey in Stockholm on January 21. The government of Sweden has also condemned the act, with the country’s foreign minister noting that “Islamophobic provocations are appalling."

Paludan continued to burn copies of the Holy Quran, having later demonstrated the act in Denmark, Copenhagen not long after Stockholm, on January 27.

These disrespectful acts have been condemned by several Muslim and Arab nations. As such, many countries across the globe are condemning the act that has provoked the emotions of the Muslim communities across the globe and instilled grief in their hearts.