GCC Chief condemns burning of copy of Holy Quran in Sweden

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council has strongly condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by extremists in Sweden's capital, Stockholm.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, Jassim Mohammed Albudaiwi stressed the need for immediate action by the Swedish authorities to prevent actions that indicate hatred and extremism.

He said, "Such irresponsible acts, which provoke and inflame the feelings of Muslims in the whole world and in these blessed days, should be prevented and addressed by all legal and ethical means and with the cooperation of all, to renounce extremism and religious fanaticism."

The Mecca-based Muslim World League has also voiced its condemnation, saying it aimed to provoke Muslims, especially during Eid Al-Adha.

Secretariat-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa warned against practices that promote hatred, provoke religious sentiments, and serve only the agendas of extremism.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, Dr Anwar Gargash, has hit out at what he calls blatant and repeated attacks on the Islamic faith.

Posting on social media he condemned actions that perpetuate hatred and rivalry, which he says are made under the pretext of freedom of opinion

The Western world, he says, must realise its value system and its justification cannot be imposed on the world.

الاعتداء السافر والمتكرر على عقيدتنا الإسلامية بحجة حرية الرأي يكرّس الكراهية والتناحر فالمساس بالمقدسات يعمق المواجهة القيمية والأيديولوجية. العالم الغربي عليه إدراك أن منظومته القيمية وتبريره لها لا يمكن فرضه على العالم ولا بديل عن المعالجة الجماعية للتطرف بعيداً عن المزايدات.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) June 29, 2023