Iran: Desecration of holy Qur’an another flip side of Takfiri extremism, violence

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned the latest instance of desecration of Muslims’ holy book in Denmark, describing it as another flip side of Takfiri extremism and violence.

According to Press TV, Nasser Kan’ani made the remark after a Danish group burned a copy of the holy Qur'an during a demonstration in the capital Copenhagen. According to media reports, the group also burned Turkey’s flag during the same demonstration.

“This act of desecration, which was done by an extremist group during the holy month of Ramadhan … is an insult to the divine religion of Islam and a blatant affront to all Muslims of the world,” Kan'ani said.

Noting that this insulting measure was taken on Friday, which coincided with the International Quds Day, when all free-thinking people of the world were calling for the liberation of al-Quds from the Zionist regime’s occupation, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added, “This is the most appalling way to demonstrate the claim that the West calls freedom of expression.”

“Being free to insult sanctities of Muslims is another flip side of Takfiri extremism and violence, and deserves the same degree of global condemnation and inhibitory reaction,” he added.

Kan'ani also asked the government of Denmark to take categorical steps to prevent repetition of such hateful measures.

Since last year, the frequency of insults against Islam and its holy book has been on the rise in Europe. Several European countries have been playing host to such despicable acts on their soils over the past months, drawing far-and-wide condemnation from the world's Muslim countries.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry described such acts as a form of hate crime, saying that Ankara would not accept "vile actions being allowed under the guise of freedom of expression."

ME