Burning Quran or any other holy book 'clear act of provocation': EU

European Union flags are seen waving outside the EU Commission Building in Brussels, Belgium. [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

The EU on Saturday said burning a copy of the Quran or any other holy book “is offensive, and disrespectful and a clear act of provocation”, Anadolu reports.

The remarks came after a person identified as Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Muslim holy book under police protection in front of a Stockholm mosque on Wednesday.

The desecration was timed to coincide with Eid al-Adha, one of the major Islamic religious festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide.

READ: US condemns Quran burning in Sweden but defends act as ‘freedom of expression‘

“Manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Europe,” Nabila Massrali, the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.

“The EU joins the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its strong rejection of the burning of a Quran by an individual in Sweden. This act in no way reflects the opinions of the European Union.”

She added: “It is even more deplorable that such act was carried out on the important Muslim celebration of Eid al Adha.”

READ: Turkiye’s Erdogan slams Sweden after Quran burnt

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