Tunisia strongly condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an extremist in the Swedish city of Stockholm, coinciding with the celebration of Eid al-Adha by Muslims around the world, in a blatant and deliberate provocation of their feelings and contempt for their beliefs.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad on Thursday, Tunisia expressed its categorical rejection of 'this heinous crime and these abhorrent practices', which are far from freedom of thought and expression and contrary to the universal human values brought by the holy heavenly books.
It called on the international community to intervene urgently to put an end to the escalation of Quran burning incidents and the growing phenomenon of Islamophobia, and to prosecute and hold accountable the perpetrators.
Tunisia also reiterated the need to reject violence, hatred and extremism and to uphold the values of moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among peoples, which are enshrined in the true Islamic religion, the statement said.
On Wednesday, a man of Iraqi origin burned pages of a copy of the Quran in front of the Grand Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden, during an authorised demonstration on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, sparking condemnation in Sweden and abroad, especially from Islamic countries.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
