Tehran Summons Swedish Envoy over Quran Desecration
During the meeting, an official with the ministry voiced Iran’s strong protest against the desecration done under the pretext of the freedom of speech and with the support of the Swedish police.
Condemning the crime that was committed during the holy month of Ramadan, the official reminded the Swedish government of its responsibilities.
The ministry also urged the Swedish government to adopt immediate and decisive action to put an end to any desecration of the Quran while also making sure that no similar events will take place in the future.
Hurting the feelings of some two billion Muslims around the world is the worst form of abusing the freedom of speech, the official said, regretting that the incident happened under the protection of the Swedish police.
This will tarnish Sweden’s image among the Muslim world, added the official.
The envoy, for his part, expressed regret over the incident, noting that he will convey Tehran’s protest to Stockholm.
Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had strongly condemned the Quran burning.
The Danish leader of the far-right Stram Kurs party burned a copy of the Holy Book in a heavily-populated Muslim area in Sweden.
Rasmus Paludan, accompanied by police, went to an open public space in southern Linkoping on Friday and placed the Muslim Holy Book down and burned it while ignoring protests from onlookers.
Protests against the heinous act turned violent after the police ignored the protestors’ earlier calls to stop the far-right rally.
