Arab Countries Condemn Tearing up of Quran in The Hague

20 April 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal: A view of the Holy Quran at a Mosque. (dpa)
20 April 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal: A view of the Holy Quran at a Mosque. (dpa)
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Arab Countries Condemn Tearing up of Quran in The Hague

20 April 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal: A view of the Holy Quran at a Mosque. (dpa)
20 April 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal: A view of the Holy Quran at a Mosque. (dpa)

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates condemned on Monday an extremist group for tearing up copies of the holy Quran in front of various embassies in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the repeated desecration of the Quran, saying such “provocative and reckless” acts are offensive to millions of Muslims and only stoke hatred.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Dutch government to take responsibility to stop these actions.

It emphasized the importance of monitoring hate speech that negatively impacts peace and security, read a statement carried by the UAE state news agency (WAM). Furthermore, the Ministry expressed its rejection of the use of freedom of expression as justification for such heinous acts.

It underscored the UAE's rejection of all practices aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles. It reaffirmed that hate speech and extremism contradict international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, coexistence and peace between peoples.

It underscored the need to respect religious symbols and avoid incitement and polarization at a time when the international community needs to work together to reiterate a commitment to upholding the universal principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The Ministry emphasized that these principles should be promoted and implemented to achieve stability and sustainable development.

The Ministry remarked that hate speech and extremism are closely linked to the spread and escalation of conflict.

Bahrain strongly condemned the tearing up of copies of the Quran.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement reiterated a call to stop such hateful provocative actions, viewing them as incitement to hostility and religious and racial hatred.

Such acts contradict international efforts aimed at promoting the values of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect between peoples and cultures, it added.

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt expressed its “deep disappointment” in the tearing up of the Quran, saying it was the “latest in a series of crimes against Islam and its sanctities.”

In a statement, it added that such crimes “demonstrate that some western governments are not determined and not serious about consolidating values of world peace and peaceful coexistence that the al-Azhar has been trying to promote.”

It called on “all western governments and people, as well as the entire world, to deeply study Islam and understand its message in a way that reflects the modernity and civility that these countries claim to represent.”

Saudi Arabia had strongly denounced the tearing up of the Quran.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s total rejection of such hateful and repeated acts, saying that these cannot be accepted under any justifications.

“Such acts clearly incite hatred and racism, and directly contradict international efforts seeking to spread the values of tolerance, and moderation, apart from rejecting extremism, and undermining the necessary mutual respect for relations between peoples and countries,” the ministry said in a statement reported by SPA.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned the “heinous” tearing up of the Quran, reiterating its call on the international community to stand against such acts that “provoke Muslim sentiments and spread hatred under the excuse of freedom of expression.”

In a statement on the X platform, it underlined the importance of cooperation between all nations to confront such acts.

Oman echoed concerns that such acts incite violence and hatred.



Why Is Israel Repeating Claims of Weapons Smuggling from Egypt?

A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
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Why Is Israel Repeating Claims of Weapons Smuggling from Egypt?

A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)

Israel said its military had downed a drone carrying weapons that it claimed entered from Egyptian territory, in an incident that experts say reflects ongoing tensions between the two neighbors and may be aimed at pressuring Cairo over its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said it had detected a drone attempting to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel around the Paran Brigade, near the border.

The drone was intercepted by Israeli forces. Upon arrival at the scene, security personnel located the drone, four weapons and ammunition, the army said, adding that the seized items were handed over to Israeli police.

The French news agency AFP also cited the statement, noting no casualties were reported.

The incident is the latest in a series of claims by Israel alleging that drones or weapons have entered its territory from Egypt.

In February, Israel said it had shot down a drone crossing from Egypt, and in October, it reported intercepting another drone it said was smuggling arms.

Egypt has not issued an official response to the latest incident, but a senior Egyptian military analyst dismissed the Israeli claims.

Retired General Samir Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptian territory is “secure and tightly controlled,” rejecting any suggestion that it is being used to smuggle arms into Israel.

He said the repeated Israeli claims were a “pretext to justify the continued mobilization of the Israeli army and the war on Gaza” amid growing domestic unrest in Israel.

Cairo has been a central mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and has staunchly opposed any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the besieged enclave.

Israel has recently seen mounting anti-war protests from current and former soldiers, as well as civilians.

The demonstrations were sparked by an April 9 letter signed by a group of Israeli air force pilots demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza—even if it meant halting the war.

The letter has since been backed by more soldiers, artists, intellectuals and public figures, further fueling pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reconsider its war strategy.

Former Egyptian diplomats and analysts have also dismissed Israeli claims that a drone carrying weapons entered its territory from Egypt, describing the move as part of a broader strategy by Tel Aviv to apply psychological and political pressure amid strained bilateral ties.

Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, a former assistant to Egypt’s foreign minister, said Israel’s allegations are consistent with its use of “hybrid warfare,” which includes military, psychological, and media tactics designed to manipulate other parties.

“These accusations are baseless,” Hassan told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that their repetition reflects growing internal pressure in Israel—both economic and military—as well as tension in relations with Cairo.

Hassan said Tel Aviv is frustrated with Egypt’s firm rejection of any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and its active diplomatic efforts to rally international support for reconstruction without resettlement.

“Israel is trying to deflect attention by repeatedly targeting Egypt’s role,” he said, pointing to recent Israeli media reports questioning Egypt’s military buildup in Sinai.

Israeli outlets have published reports in recent days alleging an unprecedented Egyptian military presence near the border, which some in Israel have claimed violates the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries.

Dr. Said Okasha, an expert on Israeli affairs at Egypt’s Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, echoed these concerns, saying the drone claim is a reflection of current tensions with Cairo.

“It’s puzzling that Israel would make such statements publicly when there are well-established channels for handling border security issues through joint coordination committees,” Okasha said.

He added that the move appears aimed at undermining Egypt’s credibility as a mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks while also serving as a distraction for Israel’s domestic audience amid growing protests over the government’s inability to end the conflict.