Muslim World Leaders Unite in Condemnation of Quran Desecration in Stockholm, Sweden

In response to the desecration of the Holy Quran in Stockholm, Sweden, Muslim leaders from various countries have expressed their strong condemnation of the vile act. Prominent Islamic figures and scholars from Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Morocco, and many African nations, have called for a joint day of mourning to be observed on July 7th, denouncing the incident and showing solidarity with the Muslim community worldwide. UN Human Rights Council will convene a session to address the desecration of the Holy Quran in Stockholm.

Siraj ul Haq, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, has called on mosques and religious leaders to lead demonstrations after Friday prayers to voice their opposition to such heinous acts. He also appreciated the statements of support from world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pope Francis. However, he urged Christian leaders worldwide to take practical steps against religious defamation to truly combat Islamophobia.

Furthermore, the Muslim leaders emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than just verbal statements from leaders and international bodies to address Islamophobia effectively. The incident of Quran desecration has triggered a series of organized attacks on Islam by individuals with extremist views, posing a threat to global peace.

In Lahore, Pakistan, Ziauddin Ansari, the spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Islami, vehemently condemned the sacrilege of the Holy Quran and stressed that it is the red line for the entire Muslim community. He labeled the desecration as an act of terrorism under the guise of freedom of speech, which must be condemned worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Pakistani Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, expressed his disapproval of the incident in a letter to the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, chaired an important meeting to discuss the matter and announced that July 7th will be observed as “Quran Day” in Pakistan, marked by nationwide protests against the desecration.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Sweden’s leniency towards Islamophobic actions, indicating opposition to Sweden’s involvement in the NATO military alliance. He urged Sweden to reconsider providing safe havens for Kurdish elements, perceived as separatist and terrorist groups by Turkey.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish ambassador in Riyadh over the issue. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the barbaric act and demanded action against the extremist individual. Morrocan Foreign Ministry has also summoned Sweden’s chief diplomat and conveyed the kingdom’s strong condemnation of the incident.

Additionally, in Iraq, people protested outside the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, following the call of the influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, demanding that the Iraqi government sever diplomatic ties with Sweden, which they considered “hostile” towards Islam.

The desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden has sparked widespread outrage and demands for action against Islamophobic acts. Muslim world leaders have united in their condemnation, calling for practical measures to combat religious defamation and safeguard religious sensitivities. The incident has drawn attention to the pressing need for global efforts to promote mutual respect, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among diverse communities.

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, also voiced his condemnation of the incident, stating that it had deeply angered and disgusted him. He stressed that freedom of speech should never be used to disrespect others’ beliefs, and he unequivocally rejected and condemned such actions.