Saudi Arabia Condemns Sweden for Allowing Extremist to Burn Quran

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Sweden for Allowing Extremist to Burn Quran

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned on Saturday Swedish authorities for allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the holy Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.

It underscored the Kingdom’s firm position that calls for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, coexistence and shunning hatred and extremism.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also strongly condemned the burning of the Quran.

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha warned that such repeated acts by far-right extremists target Muslims and offend their sacred values.

They are another example of an alarming degree of Islamophobia, intolerance and xenophobia, he added.

He called on Swedish authorities to take the necessary measures against the perpetrators of this hate crime.

He also urged the intensification of international efforts that would prevent such acts from taking place in the future and to show solidarity against Islamophobia.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf slammed the burning of the Quran, saying it will “provoke Muslim across the globe”.

He underlined the GCC’s firm stance that calls for the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and peaceful coexistence and shunning hatred and extremism.

He urged the international community to assume its responsibilities and prevent such acts from taking place.

The Muslim World League (MWL) condemned the “absurd, provocative and disgraceful” burning of the Quran.

MWL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa warned of the repercussions of such hate acts that only serve extremism.

He added that such reckless behavior abuses the concept of freedoms and their human values.

Moreover, he stressed that such barbaric acts will only increase the faith of Muslims and their steadfastness in their values that always call for peace and coexistence.



GCC Urges Security Council to Issue Resolution that Ends Genocide of Palestinians 

Gulf officials are seen at the GCC Ministerial Council meeting in Kuwait on Monday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Gulf officials are seen at the GCC Ministerial Council meeting in Kuwait on Monday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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GCC Urges Security Council to Issue Resolution that Ends Genocide of Palestinians 

Gulf officials are seen at the GCC Ministerial Council meeting in Kuwait on Monday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Gulf officials are seen at the GCC Ministerial Council meeting in Kuwait on Monday. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries discussed on Monday regional and international developments, calling on the United Nations Security Council to take a binding decision on under Chapter 7 of its Charter ensuring compliance by Israeli forces with a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The move would also ensure an end to the “genocide in Gaza and forced displacement of the Palestinian people, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the restoration of normal life” in the coastal enclave, said the GCC Ministerial Council following its 164th session in Kuwait.

The council stressed its support for the Palestinian people in Gaza and its commitment “to easing their suffering, ending the Israeli blockade, opening all crossings for the entry of humanitarian and relief aid and basic needs, and ensuring their continued access.”

It condemned the Israeli authorities' announcement of the establishment of an agency targeting the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

It stressed its rejection of any attempts to displace the residents of Gaza and the need to respect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state on their land, warning against any plans aimed at infringing on their inalienable rights.

Moreover, the council held Israel “fully responsible for the ongoing violations and attacks on Gaza, which have resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children.”

It deemed the attacks “war crimes and crimes against humanity under international humanitarian law,” dismissing Israeli claims that it is acting in self-defense.

The council slammed the practices of the Israeli authorities and their policy of collective punishment against the residents of Gaza, calling on the international community to take the necessary measures to counter such actions.

The council stressed its support for the efforts of the international coalition to implement the two-state solution, and its support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts, in partnership with Norway and the European Union, to set a timetable for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and end the Israeli occupation.

It underlined the importance of participation in the high-level international conference to reach a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution, scheduled to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York in June and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

The council underscored the centrality of the Palestinian issue, the end of the Israeli occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.

It stressed support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all occupied Palestinian territories, and emphasized “the need to intensify cooperation with international and regional powers and redouble the efforts of the international community to resolve the conflict in a manner that fulfils all the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.”

The Ministerial Council called on all countries to take the necessary measures to recognize the State of Palestine and support the national rights of the Palestinian people.

It also stressed “the importance of national reconciliation to restore Palestinian national unity and bring about unity to achieve the interests of the Palestinian people.”

Furthermore, it called on the international community “to intervene to stop the targeting of the Palestinian presence in the city of Jerusalem, the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, attempts to change its legal and historical character, its demographic composition, and the arrangements related to Islamic holy sites, and attempts to impose Israeli sovereignty over it in clear violation of international law, international resolutions, and existing agreements concluded in this regard.”

It highlighted the importance of the statement of the Extraordinary Arab Summit (Palestine Summit) regarding the deployment of international protection and peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank, pursuant to a Security Council resolution.

It also welcomed the reform measures taken by the Palestinian leadership and the appointment of Hussain Al-Sheikh as Vice President of the State of Palestine and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.