SWEDEN’S AMBASSADORS SUMMONED FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES FOLLOWING SECOND QURAN BURNING

Sweden’s ambassadors have been summoned in various countries following a second event held to desecrate the Quran, Islam’s holy book, was held in Sweden.

The condemnations and moves came following a demonstration held on Thursday in Stockholm where protesters kicked and partially damaged a book they said was the Quran.

Earlier on Thursday, the Swedish embassy in central Baghdad was set on fire.

The event in Stockholm was planned by Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Christian Iraqi refugee in Sweden, who also burned pages of a Quran on June 28.

On Thursday, the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation denounced the Stockholm protest as “another provocative attack” that could not be justified under the right to freedom of expression.

UN TO MEET ON SWEDEN QURAN-BURNING STUNT DECRIED BY MUSLIM WORLD

Here are some of the reactions in response to the latest events:

Pakistan

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the events in Sweden.

He called on the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation to play a “historic role in expressing the sentiments of Muslims and stopping this demonization.”

Iraq

Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador to the country on Thursday. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also recalled his country’s charge d’affaires in Sweden and suspended the working permit of Swedish telecom company Ericsson on Iraqi soil.

Iraq’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack on the Swedish embassy and said it would sever diplomatic ties with Sweden if such an incident was to take place again.

MUSLIM COUNTRIES FUME AFTER SWEDEN ALLOWS QURAN BURNING IN FRONT OF MOSQUE

Qatar

Qatar summoned Sweden’s ambassador early on Friday, handing him a protest note over the events in Stockholm.

The Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement that Swedish authorities should take “all the necessary measures to stop these shameful acts”.

Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish charge d’affaires in Riyadh and handed them a note of protest.

Hezbollah in Lebanon

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, called on Arab and Muslim countries to follow Iraq’s steps and expel Swedish ambassadors from their countries.

He also called on demonstrations to be held after Friday prayers, saying that “the whole world must see how we embrace our Quran, and the whole world must see how we protect our Quran with our blood”.

TURKEY SLAMS ‘DESPICABLE’ QURAN BURNING IN SWEDEN

Turkey

Turkey condemned it as a “despicable attack” and called on Sweden to take “decisive measures to prevent this hate crime” against Islam.

“We strongly condemn the despicable attack targeting our sacred book,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

Iran

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Sweden’s ambassador in Tehran on Thursday to “strongly protest against the desecration of the holy Koran”, state media reported.

Demonstrations are planned to be held throughout the country after Friday prayer.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has also written a letter to the United Nations secretary-general over the incident.

Jordan

The Kingdom of Jordan condemned the Quran’s desecration in Stockholm “as a reckless act that fuels hatred, and a manifestation of Islamophobia that incites violence and insult to religions”, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.