Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today
  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Science
  • Opinions
  • Blogs
  • Letters
Reading: Swedish Prime Minister denounces Stockholm’s sacrilege of Holy Quran
Share
Font ResizerAa
Times of PakistanTimes of Pakistan
Search
  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Science
  • Opinions
  • Blogs
  • Letters
Follow US
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us
World

Swedish Prime Minister denounces Stockholm’s sacrilege of Holy Quran

The mutilation of the Holy Quran in Stockholm has heightened tensions with Turkey as the Nordic nation courted Ankara for its Nato ambition, according to Sweden's prime minister, who referred to it as "very insulting."

News Desk
By News Desk
Published: January 23, 2023
Share
ulf kristoffersson
Ulf Kristersson. Image Credits: Government.se

The burning of a Koran over the weekend in Stockholm has heightened tensions with Turkey as the Nordic nation courted Ankara for its NATO ambition. Sweden’s prime minister criticised the act as “extremely insulting” and said it had caused the country to lose face.

Contents
Global reactionsCondemnations

Rasmus Paludan, a far-right lawmaker, set fire to a Muslim holy book on Saturday in front of the Turkish consulate in the Swedish capital.

Ankara postponed the visit of Sweden’s defence minister and summoned Stockholm’s ambassador because it was incensed that Paludan had been permitted by Swedish police to carry out the protest.

Ulf Kristersson, the prime minister, tweeted late on Saturday: “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,” he added.

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.

— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) January 21, 2023

Paludan’s protest has further strained ties as Stockholm attempts to persuade NATO member Turkey to permit Sweden and Finland to join the armed alliance.

The Turkish government’s demands that Stockholm turns over Kurdish activists and stop demonstrations criticising the Turkish government have blocked Sweden’s application.

The burning of the Holy Quran on Saturday reportedly shocked many Muslim nations.

Global reactions

Morocco expressed shock at the decision of the authorities to permit it to occur “in front of the Swedish forces of order.”

Along with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, other nations who criticised it were Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (OIC).

Jakarta stated that “freedom of expression must be practised in an appropriate manner” and added that “the act of blasphemy against the holy book has damaged and defiled religious tolerance.”

On Saturday night, dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the Swedish consulate in Istanbul. There, they burned the Swedish flag and demanded that Ankara break diplomatic ties with Stockholm.

Condemnations

In the meantime, Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, declared on Sunday that “no words are enough to adequately condemn the abhorrable act of desecration of the Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden”.

“The garb of the freedom of expression cannot be used to hurt the religious emotions of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. This is unacceptable,” he tweeted.

No words are enough to adequately condemn the abhorrable act of desecration of the Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden. The garb of the freedom of expression cannot be used to hurt the religious emotions of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. This is unacceptable.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 22, 2023

Imran Khan, the chairman of PTI, also denounced the event and emphasised the actions his administration had taken to combat Islamophobia.

Strongly condemn burning of Holy Quran yesterday at a protest in Sweden. Last March on our govt's initiative the UNGA passed OIC sponsored landmark Res on International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It recognised that Islamophobic acts were not an expression of freedom of speech.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 22, 2023
TAGGED:NATOsacrilege of Holy QuranSwedish prime ministerUlf Kristersson
ByNews Desk
The author is the Times of Pakistan news desk team.
Previous Article mohsin naqvi caretaker cm Dispute erupts once more as PTI rejects ECP’s choice of caretaker Punjab CM
Next Article khurram dastgir khan Pakistan facing a mass power outage
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More Latest News

us
More than anticipated, US firms added 311000 jobs in February
World Economy
After nearly 7 years
After nearly 7 years of antagonism, Middle Eastern adversaries, Iran and Saudi Arabia decided to resume ties
World Politics
sardar
Sardar Khetran awarded bail in triple homicide case involving Barkhan
Pakistan
Imran khan arrest
In connection with comments made against state institutions, BHC suspends Imran’s arrest warrants
Pakistan Politics
president xi jin ping
Xi wins a third term as president despite numerous obstacles
World Politics
Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today Times of Pakistan - Latest Pakistan News, Pakistan News Online, Pakistani Newspaper, Pakistan News Today
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us
  • ٹائمز آف پاکستان اردو
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact us
© 2002-2024 TIMES OF PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED.
This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?