The European Union condemned the action of burning the Koran in Stockholm and called for preventing the escalation of the situation, follows from a statement published on Saturday by the European External Action Service.
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“The EU joins the Swedish Foreign Minister in condemning the burning of the Koran in Sweden in the strongest terms. This act in no way reflects the views of the European Union… Now is the time to come together in support of mutual understanding and respect and to avoid any further escalation,” the document says.
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The European Union is also closely monitoring the situation in Baghdad, where several thousand Iraqis gathered outside the Swedish embassy yesterday to protest the burning of a copy of the Koran in Stockholm. The EU calls for calm and condemns any attacks on diplomatic missions, the statement said.
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The burning of any Holy Book is an act of insult, disrespect and provocation. Such demonstrations have no place in a Europe that continues to advocate freedom of religion and expression, the document says.
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Earlier, the Swedish police allowed a protest action with the burning of the Koran at the main mosque in Stockholm on June 28 – the first day of Eid al-Adha. Prime Minister Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson said the police decision was “legal but inappropriate”.
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According to media reports, about 200 people watched the action, some shouting “God is great!” in Arabic in protest, one was detained by the police after trying to throw a stone at an “actionist”.
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The desecration and burning of the Koran in Stockholm during the celebration of Eid al-Adha caused a wide response in many countries of the world. Iraq demanded that the Swedish authorities extradite the immigrant who committed the action for trial, while on Thursday dozens of Iraqis gathered for a protest outside the country’s embassy in Baghdad.
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The incident was also condemned by Algeria, Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Ahmed Abul Gheit and Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Jassim al-Budaive. The Foreign Ministries of Jordan and the UAE have summoned the Swedish ambassadors to present them with a note of protest.
