Muslims in London protest Holy Quran desecration

Far-right leader Rasmus Paludan had burned copy of the Holy Quran in front of mosque in Denmark

LONDON:

A group of Muslims on Saturday gathered outside Sweden’s Embassy in London to protest the provocative burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by a far-right Swedish-Danish figure.

The protesters held signs condemning the Islamophobic extremist act and chanted slogans.

Dozens of people from different communities in Birmingham, Manchester, and London also performed prayer and recited verses from the Holy Quran, Islam’s holy book, in the area.

On Friday, Swedish-Danish politician Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Party, burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of a mosque in Denmark.

The Islamophobic act came days after the far-right leader burned a copy of the Holy Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, during a police-approved protest.

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He also announced he would burn the holy book of the Muslims every Friday until Sweden is included in the NATO alliance.

Global condemnations have poured in with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemning Paludan’s actions as "deeply disrespectful," while the US called it "repugnant."

The desecration of the Holy Quran prompted strong protests in the Muslim world, with Türkiye calling Paludan an “Islam-hating charlatan” and strongly condemning the permission given by the authorities for the provocative act which it said, “clearly constitutes a hate crime.”