Rabat – Miguel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), has condemned the burning of the Quran that took place last Friday in the Swedish capital Stockholm, describing it as a “vile act.”
“While the High Representative stresses the importance of upholding the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, he also emphasizes that the act of Quran-burning amounts to an expression of hatred towards Muslims,” a statement on the UNAOC website said.
“It is disrespectful and insulting to the adherents of Islam and should not be conflated with freedom of expression,” the statement added, emphasizing the High Representative’s “deep concern” at the rise of discrimination and violence.
Sweden’s government allowed the notorious far-right leader Rasmus Paludan to protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, where he burned a copy of the holy Muslim book.
The protest drew criticism from several institutions and public personalities, particularly in the Arab world.
Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned the act as “heinous,” expressing surprise at the Swedish authorities’ authorization of the protest.
“I condemn in the strongest words the burning of the Holy Quran by an extremist in Stockholm, Sweden,” Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Twitter following the protest.
Paludan has a history of Islamophobic acts, having burned the Quran several times before the recent Stockholm event.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also expressed sympathy for Muslims who were offended by the act, writing on Twitter: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate.”
He added, “Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.”
Paludan’s Islamophobic protest also worsened relations between Ankara and Stockholm, with the Turkish government canceling a visit by Sweden’s Defense Minister. The visit was geared towards addressing some of Turkey’s objections to Sweden joining NATO.
