By Ebi Kesiena
In strong condemnation over the burning of the Muslim holy book, Quran, Morocco has called back its ambassador to Sweden after protesters burnt an Islamic divine scripture, outside Stockholm’s main Mosque.
While reacting to the act, which occurred with the start of the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha, the North African country noted that the recall of its ambassador is indefinite adding that it is “offensive and irresponsible.”
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry also summoned Sweden’s top diplomat in Rabat and conveyed the kingdom’s condemnation of the incident and its rejection of the “unacceptable” act.
Reports indicated that on Wednesday, a person identified as Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Muslim holy book under police protection in front of Stockholm Mosque.
During the demonstration, Momika came in front of the mosque, threw the Quran on the ground, stepped on it, uttered insulting words against Islam, and set the book on fire, according to media reports.
“Most vigorous condemnation of this offense and rejection of this unacceptable act.
“This offensive and irresponsible act disregards the feelings of more than a billion Muslims during this sacred period of the great pilgrimage to Mecca and the blessed feast of Eid al-Adha,” the statement said.
Earlier on June 12, a Swedish appeal court upheld a lower court’s decision to overturn a ban on Quran burning, ruling that police had no legal grounds to prevent two Quran burning protests earlier this year.