Vehement reactions across world have continued to trail the dastardly act of Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish who burned a copy of the Holy Quran last Saturday.
Right-wing politician Rasmus Paludan burned the holy Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm , Sweden, during a demonstration on Saturday, sparking protests.
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh denounced the disgraceful act, saying the act represents a provocative act against 1.5 billion Muslims and fuels strife and serves advocates of extremism.
This was coming after the Saudi Arabia foreign Affairs Ministry, gave a strongly worded condemnation of the act.
The Grand Mufti said: “These demagogic practices develop hatred and serve the agendas of extremism and terrorism and the sources of hatred around the world.”
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He called on the international community to take a firm and strong stance towards those who support and authorize them under any name or slogan.
The Grand Mufti reiterated that these barbaric and provocative practices will only increase Muslims’ faith with their belief in the status of the Holy Qur’an in their hearts, as the Holy Qur’an constitutes the source of legislation and the correct approach that guides good speech and spreading the values of peace and coexistence among nations.
He called on all Muslims to adhere to the Holy Qur’an and rally around their leaders.
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Arab League, Egypt condemn burning of Muslim holy book in Stockholm
Also Al-Azhar Al-Sharif — Sunni Islam’s oldest and foremost seat of learning condemned by the Swedish extremist.
It said on Sunday that the Qur’an will “remain in its glory” as a “guiding book for all humanity, guiding them to the values of goodness, truth and beauty.”
The repeated incident “indicates the complicity of Swedish authorities” with far-right figures in an attempt to “repeatedly and deliberately offend religious sanctities and provoke Muslims around the world,” it said.
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The “criminal acts of savagery” will not undermine the sanctity of the Holy Qur’an in the heart of a civilized person, Al-Azhar said.
It added that the “grudges of the misguided criminals and the actions of the promoters of fanaticism and sick souls, who have black records in the history of fanaticism, hatred, and wars of religion, will not affect the sanctity of the Holy Qur’an.”
Al-Azhar called on the international community to stand up to attempts to” tamper with religious sanctities,” urging the condemnation of those behind the burning and an immediate investigation into the incident.
Allowing the burning “impedes efforts to promote peace, interfaith dialogue and communication between East and West, as well as between the Islamic world and the West,” it said.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and the Egyptian government joined the condemnation.
Aboul Gheit said on Twitter: “I condemn in the strongest terms the burning of the Holy Qur’an by an extremist in Stockholm, Sweden.”
He added: “Such extreme and abnormal acts should be condemned and denounced by everyone, especially in Sweden.”
“Freedom of speech should not be a pretext for extremists to ignite the fire of hatred between followers of different religions,” said Aboul Gheit, who mentioned the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Twitter account in his tweet.
