Wisma Putra summons Swedish envoy over Stockholm Quran-burning incident

PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra has summoned the Swedish charge d’affaires over the recent desecration of the Quran in Stockholm on July 20.

“The Foreign Ministry reiterated Malaysia’s objection and disappointment over the Swedish Government for granting approval and allowing such a derogation act towards the Quran to be carried out repeatedly in Sweden under the pretext of freedom of speech.

“Although the burning of the Quran failed in the recent incident, the provocative act of stomping on the Holy Book caused immense distress and offended millions of Muslims worldwide,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday (July 24).

The ministry emphasised the importance of exercising freedom of expression responsibly, taking into consideration the religious sensitivities of diverse global communities.

Such acts of disrespect towards any religion have the potential to incite religious hatred and undermine harmony and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.

The ministry urged the Swedish government to reassess the fairness and equal application of freedom of speech and take immediate and necessary measures to address what they termed “structural Islamophobia”.

After the incident, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted the resolution on “countering religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” on July 12, and amongst the 47 council members, 28 member states voted in favour of the resolution including Malaysia, with 12 opposing it while seven abstained.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim applauded the UNHRC resolution last week.

However, Anwar said it was unfortunate that for every progressive step taken against Islamophobia, a fire of hatred ignites among those who hide their heinous acts behind the masks of free speech and expression, as demonstrated by the dissenting member states.