Quran-burning in Sweden: Govt urges international community to combat Islamophobia, promote harmonious relations

SHAH ALAM - Malaysia urges the international community to work together to combat Islamophobia and promote harmonious relations and coexistence among people of different faiths in a diverse global community.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir said the Swedish government's ignorance to stop the dreadful and wicked act despite several protests from various parties was unacceptable adding that it would have serious repercussions on relations between Sweden and Muslims worldwide.

"Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the Islamophobic act by an extremist Swedish-Danish far-right politician, Rasmus Paludan in burning a copy of the Holy Quran in Stockholm, Sweden on Jan 21, 2023,” he said in a statement issued by the ministry.

He said Malaysia will continue to work closely with members of the international community to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence and hatred against Islam.

This, he said included Islamophobic sentiments and extremism.

"This vile act is clearly an outright attack against Islam and Muslims worldwide, which has gone beyond moral limits and norms of the right to freedom of speech and expression.

"Bigotry, racism and vile desecration of such holy scripture, regardless of religion, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

"Malaysia reiterates that freedom of expression cannot be equated with freedom to insult. It goes against the universal principle of respect for religions,” he said.

He urged the Swedish government to take immediate action against the perpetrators of the heinous crime and to undertake serious measures to combat the worrisome rise of Islamophobia in Sweden.