© Vitaly Smolnikov/TASS
Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Society and Mass Media Relations Vladimir Legoyda on Sunday criticized the recent burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden.
"The Quran burning near the Turkish embassy in Sweden is an act of unacceptable vandalism," he said on Telegram. "One shouldn’t spit at something that’s sacred for another person. One shouldn’t as part of political struggle cross the boundaries of humaneness and desecrate holy things."
The Saturday’s burning of the holy book was carried out by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the far-right political party Hard Line. Paludan also criticized NATO, Turkey and its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Russian Muslim community earlier also condemned the burning.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey condemn burning of holy Quran copy in Sweden
Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned and denounced the burning of a copy of the holy Quran in front of the Turkey embassy in Stockholm by an extremist, which was allowed by the Swedish authorities.
In a statement, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the Kingdom's position of promoting values such as dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and rejecting extremism and hatred.
Meanwhile, Turkish officials also condemned the Quran-burning protest and Swedish authorities for allowing it.
“Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of ‘freedom of expression’ is completely unacceptable. This is an outright hate crime,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara after the leader of the far-right Danish party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Rasmus Paludan, burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish embassy building in Stockholm.
The Stockholm Police Department said Paludan had been permitted to hold a demonstration near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.
In response to the Swedish authorities' act of granting permission for protests in Stockholm, Turkey also announced the cancellation of the Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's visit to Ankara, which was scheduled to take place on January 27th.
Sweden criticizes Quran burning in Stockholm, but defends granting permission
Sweden has criticized the burning of a copy of the Quran by a Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist in Stockholm, but defended its decision to allow the planned act to go ahead.
In a Twitter post on late Saturday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "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,” he said.
Likewise, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Twitter: “Islamophobic provocations are appalling. Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish Government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.”
The leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line), was granted permission by the Swedish government to burn the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.
In response to Sweden's permission, Ankara canceled Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's upcoming visit to Türkiye.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Swedish Ambassador to Ankara Staffan Herrstrom, who was told that Türkiye "strongly condemns this provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime, that Sweden's attitude is unacceptable, that Ankara expects the act not to be allowed, and insults to sacred values cannot be defended under the guise of democratic rights."
No Reaction From Vatican to the burning of Quran in Sweden
Since the first time until yesterday then the burning of Quran by Paludan, there has been no statement at all from the Pope of the Vatican
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