Saudi Arabia condemns provocative act of Quran tearing in Netherlands

RIYADH: The government of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the actions of an extremist in the Netherlands who tore up a copy of the Holy Quran near the Dutch parliament, in The Hague and stepped on it.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement via its Twitter account on Wednesday, the act is considered provocative to millions of Muslims around the world.

The act was carried out by Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Dutch extremist group Pegida, last Sunday. The provocative act in the Netherlands follows the burning of a copy of the holy book outside the Turkish Embassy in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Saturday by far-right extremist and Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed "the kingdom's firm position calling for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and rejecting the elements of hatred and extremism," said the ministry.

At the same time, the Supreme Department for the Affairs of Masjidil Haram and Masjid Nabawi also condemned the actions of extremists in the country.

The department in its statement on Wednesday also categorically rejects any practices and acts that harms the purity of Islam and its sharia.

"This kind of behaviour is offensive and among others, discredits the concept of freedom and human values. And we strongly condemn the actions that are done intentionally against the Quran," he said.

The department also emphasised the importance of the value of dialogue, tolerance and co-existence and that such actions will only increase the faith of Muslims in Allah and the holy book Al Quran.

Before this, Malaysia strongly condemned the Islamophobic actions of Rasmus Paludan who burned a copy of the the Quran, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia also urged the Swedish Government to take immediate action against the perpetrators of the heinous act as well as ensure drastic measures be taken in the future to address the alarming rise of Islamophobia in the country.

On Tuesday the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) voiced its concern over "the continuing manifestation of religious intolerance and hatred towards Muslims in many parts of the world" and urged the governments concerned to take steps to tackle Islamophobia.

-- BERNAMA