Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Ã...žentop, Tuesday strongly condemned the ongoing incidents involving the burning of the Quran by far-right supporters in rallies in Sweden, as he said racists are getting a free pass under the guise of freedom of expression to spread Islamophobic and racist policies.
"We're witnessing a period when anti-Muslim and racist policies are carried out under the cover of freedom of expression," Ã...žentop told a meeting with diplomats of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s parliamentary union members in Ankara.
He continued by saying that he strongly condemns disrespectful acts against the Quran in Sweden, as he urged all countries and global institutions to take a "principled stance" against such attacks and take necessary precautions to prevent them, as such hostility threatens world peace.
The burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book Quran by far-right extremists sparked riots in several Swedish towns over the Easter weekend.
Turkish officials have criticized their Western counterparts for remaining indifferent to anti-Muslim sentiment and fueling the ideology, while experts believe Turkey can lead the fight against it. Turkey has continuously called on world leaders to take action to stop the demonization of Muslims and has been taking action to tackle the growing problem.
Iraq's Foreign Ministry had summoned on Sunday Sweden's charge d'affaires, Hakan Rooth, over the burning of the Quran. The ministry had warned that the burning "bears grave implications on Sweden's relations with all Muslims."
Iraq's foreign ministry said on Sunday it had summoned the Swedish charge d'affaires in Baghdad. It warned the affair could have "serious repercussions" on "relations between Sweden and Muslims in general, both Muslim and Arab countries and Muslim communities in Europe".
In a statement published on the official Saudi news agency on Sunday, the kingdom called the burnings "provocations and incitement against Muslims by some extremists in Sweden" and stressed "the importance of concerted efforts to spread the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, reject hatred, extremism and exclusion, and prevent abuse of all religions and sanctities."
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "condemned the intentional abuse of the Holy Qur'an" by the far-right, saying it is "among the extreme right-wing practices that incite against immigrants in general and Muslims in particular."
Kuwait "expressed its utter condemnation and disgust towards the acts of desecration perpetrated by Swedish extremists against the Holy Quran," the state news agency KUNA said.
Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the action "contradicts all religious values and principles, human rights principles and basic freedoms, and fuels feelings of hatred and violence and threatens peaceful coexistence."
Pakistan condemns
Pakistan on Monday condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran and offensive remarks passed by a Dutch politician.
"Pakistan strongly condemns the recent abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran during rallies in Sweden. Pakistan also strongly condemns the offensive remarks made by a Dutch politician, attacking Islam and the Muslim holy month of Ramazan," a statement of Pakistan Foreign Office said, adding:
"Pakistan's concerns have been conveyed to the authorities in Sweden and the Netherlands. They have been urged to take cognisance of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims worldwide and take steps to prevent Islamophobic incidents."
It also said that Muslims everywhere unequivocally condemned the practice of insulting Islam, Christianity and Judaism and stood against all acts of violence on the basis of religion or belief. "These principles must be equally respected and supported by all." the statement pointed out.
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