UPDATE - Türkiye strongly condemns attack on Muslim holy book, Turkish flag in Denmark

ADDS MORE FROM THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Saturday strongly condemned a “vile attack” on the Muslim holy book, the Quran, and a Turkish flag in Denmark.

Denouncing the late Friday incident as a “hate crime,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: "Giving permission to this heinous act, which is a hate crime, under the guise of freedom of expression is completely unacceptable."

"This act, which was carried out in (the Muslim holy month of) Ramadan, has once again clearly revealed that Islamophobia, discrimination and xenophobia have reached an alarming level in Europe and that no lessons have been learned from the past," it added.

It added that the "Danish authorities were informed that we strongly condemn and protest this act."

The ministry urged Danish authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators, along with concrete measures to prevent further provocations that threaten social harmony and peaceful coexistence.​​​​​​​

Recent months have seen several acts of Quran burning, or attempts to do so, by Islamophobic figures or groups in northern Europe and nordic countries.