Dubai, UAE—The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, many other Arab nations and organizations have condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by extremists in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sunday.
Secretary-General of the GCC Dr. Naif Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf has warned that the act would inflame and provoke Muslims around the world.
Saudi Press Agency reported that Al-Hajraf affirmed the GCC’s firm stance calling for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and rejecting hatred and extremism, calling on the international community to assume responsibilities to stop such unacceptable acts.
Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha warned that this “provocative act, which was committed by extremist activists, targeting Muslims and insulting their sacred values, constitutes another example of the disturbing level reached by Islamophobia, hatred, intolerance and xenophobia:
Arab Parliament called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and criminalize these unacceptable acts, which fuel feelings of hatred and violence and destabilize security and stability.
In a statement, the Arab Parliament called for the enactment of international laws that criminalize insulting religious sanctities, affirming the need to spread the values of tolerance and coexistence.
He urged the Swedish authorities to take the necessary measures against the perpetrators of this hate crime, calling for intensifying the international efforts to prevent the recurrence of such acts, and for solidarity in the fight against Islamophobia.
In a statement, Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that this “disgraceful act provokes the feelings of hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world”.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed “the UAE’s rejection of all practices aimed at destabilizing security and stability in contravention of human and moral values and principles”.
“The ministry renewed its enduring call to renounce hate speech and violence and underscored the need to respect religious symbols and avoid inciting hatred by insulting religions. Furthermore, the ministry reiterated the need to spread the values of tolerance and coexistence,” the Emirates News Agency said.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the kingdom’s firm position calling for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, and rejecting hatred and extremism, SPA reported.
Jordan, according to Petra, said spreading and promoting a culture of peace and acceptance of the other, raising awareness of joint values of respect, enriching values of harmony and tolerance, and rejecting extremism, intolerance, and incitement to hatred, is a collective responsibility that everyone must adhere to.
Also joining the chorus of condemnations was the Organization of Islamic Cooperation News Agencies (UNA), which urged the Swedish authorities to take necessary measures against the perpetrators of this hate crime and called for increased international efforts to prevent the re-occurrence of such acts.