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Police intervene as people react to the burning of a copy of the Koran in Stockholm on Wednesday
Several Muslim-majority countries have condemned the burning of a copy of the Koran during a protest in Sweden.
Salwan Momika, allegedly an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Muslim text in front of Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday.
Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have harshly criticized the burning.
And Turkey, a NATO member that can decide whether Sweden joins, called it a “despicable act.”
Muslims regard the Qur’an as the holy word of God and consider any willful damage or disrespect to it to be deeply offensive.
Wednesday’s Koran burning came as Muslims around the world celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.
Swedish police had given Mr Momika permission to protest, in accordance with free speech laws. However, the police later said the incident was being investigated for incitement to hatred.
The protest also sparked outrage from other nations.
Morocco has recalled its ambassador from Stockholm and summoned Sweden’s chargé d’affaires to Rabat.
Iraq said the incident was “an expression of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression.”
Iran joined Iraq’s criticism, calling the burning of the Koran “provocative” and “unacceptable,” while Egypt called it a “shameful” act, particularly provocative as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha.
Saudi Arabia — the target of some 1.8 million worshipers on this week’s annual Hajj pilgrimage — said, “These hateful and repeated acts cannot be condoned with any justification.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said burning the Koran was “legal but not appropriate”.
Plans to burn copies of the Koran have sparked riots in Sweden in recent months.
The police had recently rejected similar protest requests, but the courts then ruled that they should be allowed on the grounds of freedom of expression.