Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned and denounced on Saturday the Swedish authorities' allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the Holy Qur’an in front of the Turkey’s embassy in Stockholm.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the Kingdom's firm position that called for the importance to spread the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, in addition to rejecting extremism and hatred.

It is worth noting that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara after the leader of the far-right Danish party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Rasmus Paludan, burned a copy of the Holy Qur’an in front of the Turkish embassy building in Stockholm.

The Stockholm Police Department said Paludan had been given permission to hold a demonstration near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.

In response to the Swedish authorities act of granting permission for protests in Stockholm, Turkey also announced the cancelation of the Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson's visit to Ankara, which was scheduled to take place on Jan. 27.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that "At this point, the visit of Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson to Turkey on Jan. 27 has become meaningless.So we canceled the visit."