Pakistan’s foreign office has condemned the burning of the Holy Quran by a protester in Sweden on Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
“Such wilful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under pretext of freedom of expression and protest”, read the statement issued by the foreign office.
“Under international law, States are duty bound to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred, leading to incitement of violence,” it added.
Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque.
Turkey has also condemned the desecration, calling it a “heinous act.”
“It is unacceptable to allow these anti-Islamic actions under the pretext of freedom of expression. To turn a blind eye to such heinous acts is to be complicit in them,” a statement issued by Turkey’s foreign minister read.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Quran burning was “legal but not appropriate”.
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