Iraqi Scholar Urges Creating Deterrence against Desecration
Speaking to IQNA, Sheikh Kharuddin al-Hadi, head of the Dar-ol-Quran Center affiliated to the Astan (custodianship) of Imam Hussein (AS) holy shrine, expressed regret over the burning of a copy of the Quran in a far-right rally in Sweden.
The act of blasphemy became more heinous after being supported by some authorities because their rally was held in the presence of the Swedish police and the burning happened before the eyes of Muslims, he said.
The remarks come as Rasmus Paludan, the Danish leader of the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, burned a copy of the Holy Quran in southern Linkoping in Sweden last Thursday.
The act of desecration has been vastly condemned by Muslim countries and groups that have also urged the Swedish government to prevent the occurrence of similar events in the future.
The Swedish police did not stop the far-right rally under the pretext of the freedom of speech.
Naming the desecration as a violation of human rights and a war on freedom of speech, al-Hadi said this act is not only contrary to the culture of nations but also violates the principles of democracy that the Swedish government believes.
Western countries and all those organizations who claim to support human rights adopt double standards on some issues and the freedom of speech is one of the examples, he added.
The silence of international organizations regarding the recent desecration means that they support such insults to Muslims and this will affect the global peace, added the scholar.
Islamic countries should hold Sweden accountable for the act because the government has supported the far-right rally and has not prevented it, he said.
He also called for putting Rasmus Paludan on trial in an Islamic court as he has violated international law and hurt the feelings of Muslims in the blessed month of Ramadan.
