Turkiye strongly condemned the “despicable attack” targeting Islam’s holy book, the Koran, near the Iraqi Embassy in Sweden.
In a written statement, the Turkiye Foreign Ministry urged Sweden to take steps to prevent hate crimes against Islam and billions of Muslims as part of its international responsibilities, especially its obligations under the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Council of Europe.
“Turkiye is ready to cooperate with countries experiencing increasing cases of Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism and discrimination,” the statement added.
Separately, Akif Cagatay Kilic, a top adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, strongly condemned the “blasphemy” committed against the Koran in Sweden.
“This heinous act is an affront to democracy and freedom and a crime against humanity. The Swedish government must review the laws, decisions and practices it has taken refuge behind,” Kilic said on Twitter.
He called out the Swedish authorities, who permitted “provocative actions” that the Swedish people would never accept, in terms of “reason and consideration”.
“Everyone must respect each other’s sanctity. True freedom will come from giving this respect!” Kilic said.
Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the issue separately with his counterparts from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt by telephone.
The foreign ministers discussed measures by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and joint efforts to prevent the increase in anti-Islam movements and hate crimes in Europe, a Turkiye Foreign Ministry statement said.
Early Thursday morning, a mob stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire in protest at the burning of a copy of the Koran last month by Salwan Momika, a man born in Iraq who now lives in Sweden.
Sweden’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on its embassy in Baghdad, calling it a “serious violation” of the Vienna Convention.
Many countries, including the US, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries, also condemned this act of blasphemy.
Sweden also launched an investigation into the incident.
Momika again insulted the Koran, by stepping on the holy book and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Sweden.
The UN Human Rights Council on July 12 condemned recent attacks on the Koran even as Western countries sought to oppose the resolution.
The draft resolution was submitted by Pakistan representing 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The resolution, which called for condemnation of the attack targeting the Koran and described it as an “act of religious hatred”, was voted on by the 47-member human rights council.
The decision was adopted with 28 countries voting in favor, 12 countries against it, and 7 countries abstaining at the 53rd regular meeting of the UN Human Rights Council.
Source : aa
