UPDATE - Türkiye condemns in 'strongest possible terms' Quran burnings in Denmark

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) — Türkiye on Tuesday condemned the latest in a string of Quran burnings in front of its embassy in Denmark.

"After the events that took place yesterday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the continued attacks in Copenhagen against our holy book, the Quran, including one today (July 25) in front of our embassy," the Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement.

"The fact that the Danish authorities persistently turn a blind eye to these attacks and provide protection to these provocations shows that they do not see the peril of the consequences that incidents might cause," the statement added.

"Such attacks not only offend billions of Muslims, but also harm social peace and the culture of coexistence," the ministry underlined.

Ankara also called on Danish authorities to "take the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of this hate crime."

A far-right Islamophobic group known as the Danske Patrioter desecrated copies of the Muslim holy book on Tuesday and Monday outside the Turkish, Egyptian, and Iraqi embassies in Copenhagen.

Recent months have seen repeated acts of Quran burning or desecration, or attempts to do so, by Islamophobic figures or groups, especially in northern European and Nordic countries.

- 'Abominable and Satanic'

The repeated attacks also drew negative reactions from Pakistan.

"The latest incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in front of an Iraqi Embassy in Denmark has left Muslims all over the world deeply anguished," the South Asian country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.

All of Pakistan is "in deep pain and distress," Sharif said, describing the attacks as "abominable and Satanic."

He asserted that such acts have "a sinister design" and intended to "hurt the inter-faith relations, damage peace and harmony and promote religious hatred and Islamophobia."

"I call upon the governments and faith leaders in particular to put an end to such abhorrent practices," he noted.

"Let us not allow a handful of misguided and evil people to hurt the emotions of billions of people.

"Let them not dictate their nefarious agenda," the prime minister added.

- 'Disgraceful' attacks in violation of int'l law

Saudi Arabia was another country that criticized the multiple recent attacks against the Quran.

The "disgraceful actions" were on the agenda at a Cabinet session held Tuesday in Jeddah, according to Saudi Press Agency.

Contravening "international efforts to spread tolerance and moderation, and reject hatred," acts desecrating the Muslim holy book are a "flagrant violation of all laws and customs," the Cabinet said.

It reiterated the country's "strong condemnation" of the acts.