Another deplorable incident of desecrating the Holy Quran has occurred despite the condemnation of Muslim countries. The latest incident occurred outside the Iraqi Embassy in Demark when two far-right extremists committed the abhorrent act as European countries tacitly approved their actions.
It is unfortunate that such abhorrent incidents are becoming the norm in Sweden, Denmark and other European countries, placing them at odds with the Muslim world. The biggest condemnation has come from Iraq as the person who committed the first incident in Stockholm was an Iraqi refugee. Protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire. Sweden was forced to withdraw its staff but still fails to take any action for the deplorable acts.
The OIC – the bloc of 57 Muslim nations – has condemned the incident but has been insufficient to prevent its occurrence. The OIC held a special emergency session to discuss ways to combat Islamophobia and later suspended Sweden’s special envoy. It condemned Sweden’s authorities for granting licenses that enable repeat incidents of violating the sanctity of the Holy Quran.
There have been protests in several Islamic countries over the incidents. In Iraq, thousands of protesters held demonstrations to express their displeasure over the act. Many of them were supporters of influential cleric al-Sadr who has been a ferocious critic of such incidents. Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei said Sweden has declared war against the Muslim world with such actions.
Scandinavian countries are known for their development and social welfare models but have formed a concept of freedom of expression that has no concern for respecting the sanctity of religion and its scriptures or symbols. The rise of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia has increased hatred and divided societies in European countries.
Muslim countries have failed to do much except for issuing condemnations and protests. The UN Human Rights Council which is currently dominated by OIC countries passed a resolution on religious hatred but it stoked controversy as several countries abstained and none from Europe supported it. They claimed that no laws are violated and action cannot be taken.
If such incidents become the norm, it will further divide multicultural European societies and relations with the Muslim world. It is necessary that Europe plug gaps that allow such incidents and spread hatred. Muslim countries need a stronger response to demonstrate the incidents of desecrating the Holy Quran cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
