'Fuelling hatred': Arab states condemn Quran burning in Sweden

Several Arab states have condemned the alleged burning of copies of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, in Sweden last week.

In a statement on Twitter yesterday, the Qatari foreign ministry considered the "horrible" incident as an act of "incitement and provocation" against Muslims across the world.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia condemned the "deliberate abuse of the holy Quran by some extremists in Sweden and provocation and incitement against Muslims", a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry read.

Jordan also condemned the incident, saying it "contradicts all religious values and principles, as well as the principles of human rights and basic freedoms".

Iraq on Sunday summoned the Swedish envoy in Baghdad over the incident.

Egyptian endowments minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa called the burning of a Quran a "despicable, racist" act that "fuels feeling of hatred".

Earlier this week, Danish-Swedish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan said he had burned the Quran and planned for rallies nationwide, sparking clashes and protests in the country.

Paludan's inflammatory rhetoric and acts have gotten him into trouble in other European countries. He was expelled from France and Belgium in 2020, accused of inciting hatred.

He was banned from entering Sweden the same year after planning a similar Quran-burning rally.

But this time, politicians including justice minister Morgan Johansson have defended Paludan's call to rally as freedom of expression and condemned the riots.