EU condemns desecration of Holy Qur’an in Sweden

The European Union has strongly denounced the recent Qur'an burning outside a mosque in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, calling it “a clear act of provocation.”

In a statement on Saturday, the EU said this "offensive, disrespectful" act does not reflect the opinions of the bloc, stressing that “manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance” have no place in Europe.

It went on to say that the EU continues to uphold freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, both within its member states and internationally.

The statement further emphasized that “now is the time to stand together for mutual understanding and respect and to prevent any further escalation.”

It also noted that the incident was deemed even more offensive as it took place at the time when Muslims were celebrating Eid Al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

SS