“I feel angry, disgusted at these actions,” Pope condemns Quran burning in Sweden

In an interview with a United Arab Emirates newspaper, Pope Francis condemned Quran burning in Sweden on the day Muslims observed Eid, saying he felt “angry and disgusted” to see the Muslim holy book desecrated.

On Wednesday, 27 June, a man in Stockholm tore up and burned a Quran outside a mosque, drawing widespread condemnation. He was permitted to demonstrate by Swedish police amidst calls to stop it from Muslim groups.

“Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it,” Pope told Al Ithihad. This comes as the Quran burning incident has fueled strong protests in parts of Arab nations.

The act was also condemned by the Swedish government and Washington after global outrage. On Monday, Saudi Arabia summoned Sweden’s ambassador over the incident.

In a sharp reaction, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a group of 57 states, said collective measures are needed and international law should be used to stop religious hatred.

In January, Turkey suspended talks over Sweden’s NATO membership application after a Danish far-right politician burned a copy of the Quran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. Turkey has yet again registered their anger over the action.