United Outrage: Middle Eastern States Condemn Quran Burning Incident in Stockholm

Several Middle Eastern countries have issued strong statements condemning the burning of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm, Sweden. The incident involved an Iraqi man living in Sweden who set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque on June 28, 2023. Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have criticized the burning, while Turkey has called it a “despicable act” and condemned allowing “anti-Islamic actions” to take place under the pretext of freedom of expression.

Muslims consider the Quran the sacred word of God and view any intentional damage or show of disrespect towards it as deeply offensive. The incident occurred on the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.