After Sweden, Dutch politicians tear pages from the Koran; burning it
After the first instance of disrespect to the Muslim holy book in Sweden this week, where a copy of the Koran was burned, the leader of the extremist anti-Islam group Pegida in the Netherlands, Edwin Wagensfeld, tore up pages and burned another copy. of the Holy Qur’an in the city of The Hague, under the protection of the Dutch police.
On Monday, far-right politician Edwin Wagensveld shared a video of his provocative act, which took place in front of the parliament building in The Hague, on Twitter.
Wagensveld’s video showed the Dutch police standing behind the right-wing extremist without lifting a finger as he tore pages from the Koran and stomped on it.
However, Wagensveld later burned the torn pages of the Koran in a frying pan.
“People who know and follow us know we never give up, we are not intimidated by violence and death threats…….not words but actions. Having been arrested and jailed 2 times before, today was the third time a charm! ,” Wagensveld tweeted.
According to the Anadolu Agency report, “the Dutch police gave him permission to do this, provided he does not burn the Muslim holy book.”
Turkey calls Dutch ambassador for tearing down the Koran
Following this incident, Turkey on Tuesday summoned the Dutch ambassador in Ankara, Joep Wijnands, over a “disgusting attack” on the Koran, Islam’s holy book, in The Hague.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous attack by an anti-Islamic individual in The Hague, the Netherlands, on January 22, targeting our holy book, the Koran,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“This heinous act, which, after Sweden, took place this time in the Netherlands, insulted our sacred values and contained a hate crime, is a clear declaration that Islamophobia, discrimination and xenophobia know no borders in Europe,” it added. .
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates strongly condemn the destruction of the Koran
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates expressed their strong condemnation and condemnation of the extremist tearing up a copy of the Holy Quran.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the demolition of a copy of the Koran in the Netherlands is “a provocative step against the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world.”
The ministry reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s position on spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, and rejecting the causes of hatred and extremism.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stressed in a statement that the UAE’s permanent rejection of all practices aimed at undermining security and stability and contradicting human and moral values and principles.
The ministry called for the need to respect religious symbols and sanctities, and to avoid incitement and polarization, at a time when the world must work together to spread the values of tolerance and coexistence, and reject hatred and extremism.
The incident comes after far-right Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish hardline party, on January 21 burned a copy of the Koran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, under strict police protection, preventing anyone from approaching him while he committed the act.
The incident sparked anger among Muslims and condemnation from Arab and Islamic countries, amid intense calls for a widespread commercial boycott of Swedish goods.