Pakistan demands Sweden clarify its position on recent Quran burning

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) — Pakistan on Thursday asked Sweden to clarify its position on a recent burning of the Muslim holy book, the Quran in Stockholm.

Underlining that Islamabad respects freedom of speech but would not tolerate "propaganda against Muslims," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the remarks at the country's parliament as lawmakers passed a resolution condemning the burning of the Muslim holy book last week in front of a mosque in the Nordic country.

Pakistani lawmakers unanimously adopted the resolution that also called on the international community to prevent similar acts in the future.

The resolution was passed with both government and opposition support during a specially-convened joint sitting of the lower chamber, called the National Assembly, and the Senate in the capital Islamabad.

Addressing the session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said such incidents involving the desecration of the Muslim holy book are the product of a growing wave of Islamophobia in the West.

Opposition leader Raja Riaz, while rejecting "attempt" by the Swedish government to distance itself from the incident, said last week's Quran burning offended over a billion Muslims across the world.

Pakistanis will hold countrywide protests on Friday to protest the act, carried out under police protection last Wednesday by Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old man of Iraqi origin who tore up and burned a copy of the Quran in front of a Stockholm mosque.

The act was deliberately timed to coincide with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic religious festival observed by Muslims worldwide.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from several countries, including Türkiye, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation calling for collective measures to prevent such acts.​​​​​​​