Quran torn by Islamophobic group given to Turkish Embassy in Netherlands

By Abdullah Asiran

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AA) - The Quran that was torn last month by the Islamophobic group, PEGIDA, was given Friday to Türkiye's ambassador to the Netherlands.

The Quran, which has since been repaired, was desecrated during a provocative act in the Hague on Aug. 18, was given to Selcuk Unal.

It was handed over by Salih Arslan, head of the Mimar Sinan Mosque Association, affiliated with the Turkish-Muslim group IGMG.

Unal told Anadolu that his group strongly condemns attacks on the Quran and it hopes such actions will not be repeated.

"After repairing the torn copy of Quran ... we will not forget this disrespectful act and keep it in our embassy," he said.

Unal said PEGIDA members expected to hold a similar protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in The Hague and other embassies in Muslim countries Saturday.

They are in contact with all relevant Dutch authorities to prevent such acts, he said.

- Attacks against the Quran in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands

Rasmus Paludan, a Danish far-right politician and leader of the Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Party, continued provocations by burning the Quran in the Swedish cities of Malmo, Norkopin, Jonkoping and Stockholm during the Easter holidays in 2022.

Paludan burned the Muslim holy book in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Jan. 21 and in the Danish capital Copenhagen on Jan. 27.

Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Islamophobic organization, Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement, in the Netherlands, tore the Quran in a one-man demonstration in The Hague on Jan. 22, under police protection, and again Feb. 13 in the city of Utrecht.

Muslim groups gathered at the site where a demonstration in Rotterdam was planned and held a counter-demonstration because PEGIDA's demonstration was not banned despite the announcement that the group's members would burn the Quran.

Wagensveld, who was released the same day after being detained, wanted to carry out a similar action in The Hague the following day but police detained him on grounds that he did not comply with demonstration rules.

On Aug. 18, Wagensveld tore the Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in The Hague.

In Stockholm, Salwan Momika set the Quran on fire under police protection in front of the Stockholm Mosque on June 28, which coincided with the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Momika trampled the Qur'an and the Iraqi flag under police protection in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on July 20, and in front of the Swedish Parliament on July 31 and July 14.

Bahrami Marjan, who is of Iranian origin, burned the Quran on Angbybadet beach in Stockholm on Aug. 3 under the protection of police.