DICID condemns the desecration and burning of a copy of Holy Quran outside the Stockholm Central Mosque in Sweden, and renews its warning of the consequences of disrespecting religious sanctities

03 Jul DICID condemns the desecration and burning of a copy of Holy Quran outside the Stockholm Central Mosque in Sweden, and renews its warning of the consequences of disrespecting religious sanctities

Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue strongly condemns the act of extremist Salwan Momika, a Swede of Iraqi origin, who burned a copy of the Holy Quran outside the Stockholm Central Mosque on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 CE, the first day of Eid al-Adha 1444 AH, while Muslims were performing Eid prayers there. DICID also strongly condemns the Swedish authorities for allowing, under the pretext of freedom of expression, this heinous terrorist act, which is an insult to Muslims and their religious sanctuaries. It disrupts positive relations between the followers of religions, destroys many achievements of dialogue and coexistence, incites violence, generates more Islamophobia and hinders the process of building peace between religions and cultures.

DICID condemns in the strongest terms this criminal and hateful act, which represents a new phenomenon of Islamophobia and only draws further into the quagmire of terrorism and extremism. This type of extremist act is one of the biggest obstacles to dialogue and one of the biggest challenges that damages years of efforts in the field of dialogue, and disrupt the peacebuilding process. This is an unacceptable and immoral act. Important religious ideals and values call for respect for religious sanctities. His despicable act was a grave insult to religious sanctities and a provocation to the feelings of more than one and a half billion Muslims.

DICID expresses its open and clear position, to which it has adhered for years, emphasizing its deep regret at the occurrence of such abuses and any actions that offend religions, whether it comes from individuals or groups and whether it offends Islam or other religions. DICID reaffirms its moral and religious principles that it is important to respect religious sanctities, to promote the spirit of coexistence and respect for pluralism, and to give priority to dialogue over intolerance and racism.

DICID appeals to all those engaged in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, to religious leaders, to government leaders, and to all those responsible for guiding opinions and thoughts to avoid offending religions. DICID also appeals to the honest and sincere working partners of religious and government leaders worldwide and to decision makers to denounce, condemn and reject this work in its entirety and to express this officially in international forums and meetings.

DICID calls on Muslims to counter this abuse with the opposite of what is expected of them and not to satisfy the extremists. DICID appeals to Muslims to show prudence, not to be influenced by this deliberate incitement, and not to act in a way that displeases Islam or offends others. At the same time, because Swedish authorities have allowed this unacceptable act under the pretext of freedom of expression; DICID calls for boycotting Swedish products and to condemn the actions of any extremist who would burn and tear up the Qur’an on Muslims holiday or any other day, or do the same to any religion’s sacred scriptures. Furthermore, DICID reiterates that this act committed by extremist is anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim, and anti-religion and is a clear and unequivocal provocation of Muslims. It is an insult to all religions and to all humanity when this type of action is not condemned by governments and religious authorities everywhere.

It is worth noting that Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue strongly condemned and denounced the burning of the Holy Quran by Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan near the Turkish Embassy in the Swedish capital Stockholm on January 21, 2023, and the leader of the extremist anti-Islamic movement “Pegida” in the Netherlands, Edwin Wagensveld, who tore up a copy of the Holy Quran in The Hague, Netherlands, two days later on January 23, 2023. DICID will always condemn all anti-religious extremist activities around the world.