JEDDAH — Muslim countries and organizations across the world voiced their strong disagreement on Friday over the desecration of the Qur'an in Sweden.

Outraged over the issue, thousands of people took to the streets in several countries to express their anger following midday prayers.

Sweden’s ambassadors have been summoned in various countries including Saudi Arabia anad Qatar following a second event to desecrate Islam’s holy book was held in Stockholm.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed in the strongest terms the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the Swedish authorities' decision to repeatedly grant permission allowing extremists to burn copies of the Holy Qur'an. The ministry described this as irresponsible behavior and disgraceful acts provoking the sentiments of Muslims around the world.

The ministry summoned the Swedish charge d’affaires in Riyadh and handed them a note of protest.

In Makkah, the Muslim World League (MWL) condemned in the strongest terms the crime of the desecration of a copy of the Holy Qur'an, which was committed by an extremist in the Swedish capital in a disgraceful and provocative infraction of the feelings of Muslims.

In a statement, the League’s General Secretariat denounced these absurd and heinous practices that violate all religious and human norms and principles.

The statement added that Swedish society recently announced its clear rejection of these practices, which are unfortunately done with official approval under the pretext of “Freedom of Expression”, while in fact, they offend the civilized and logical concept of freedoms, according to its principles that call for respect for the sanctities and not to discriminate or cause any provocation under any pretext.

MWL renewed its warning against the dangers of practices that stimulate hatred and stir up religious feelings, which only serve the agendas of extremism.

In Jeddah, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, condemned in the strongest term another provocative act of desecration of a copy of the Holy Qur'an that took place on Thursday in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm. He expressed deep disappointment that the Swedish authorities continued to issue permissions, despite the alarming consequences of the despicable act of desecration.

The OIC Secretary-General stressed the need to comply with the international law and urged the Swedish authorities to stop issuing permissions for extremist groups and individuals in order to prevent the recurrence of such provocative actions.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, Jassim Mohammed Albudaiwi, expressed his strong condemnation and denunciation of the continued provocations against Muslims, and the desecration of the Noble Qur’an in the Swedish capital.

He said these disgraceful and unacceptable acts provoke the feelings of Muslims all over the world, and the Swedish authorities must take immediate and serious action to stop these behaviors and hold extremists accountable, stressing that these heinous, incitement and contrary to the principles of tolerance and freedom of religion are indicative of hatred, hatred and extremism.

Protesters in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon staged demonstrations after Swedish police allowed a demonstration in the Swedish capital on Thursday where protesters kicked and partially damaged a book they said was the Qur'an.

The Swedish protesters did not burn the Qur'an as they had originally threatened to do, but the event still sparked action from several Muslim countries.

The event in Stockholm was planned by Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Christian Iraqi refugee, who also burned pages of a Qur'an copy on June 28.

Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador to the country on Thursday. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also recalled his country’s charge d’affaires in Sweden and suspended the working permit of Swedish telecom company Ericsson on Iraqi soil.

Iraq’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack on the Swedish embassy and said it would sever diplomatic ties with Sweden if such an incident was to take place again.

Qatar summoned Sweden’s ambassador early on Friday, handing him a protest note over the events in Stockholm.

The Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement that Swedish authorities should take “all the necessary measures to stop these shameful acts”.

The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, called on Arab and Muslim countries to follow Iraq’s steps and expel Swedish ambassadors from their countries.

He also called demonstrations to be held after Friday prayers, saying that “the whole world must see how we embrace our Qur'an, and the whole world must see how we protect our Quran with our blood”.

Turkey condemned it as a “despicable attack” and called on Sweden to take “decisive measures to prevent this hate crime” against Islam.

“We strongly condemn the despicable attack targeting our sacred book,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

In a statement by the Omani News Agency today, the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs also strongly condemned these provocative acts against the feelings and sanctities of Muslims and the incitement of violence and hatred.

The Ministry also called on the international community to take a more firm stance by criminalizing all acts that incite hatred and conflict among religions and cultures and offend laws and beliefs, stressing the importance of promoting the values of peaceful coexistence and tolerance among all members of society.

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Sweden’s ambassador in Tehran on Thursday to “strongly protest against the desecration of the holy Qur'an”, state media reported.

Demonstrations were held throughout the country after Friday prayer.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has also written a letter to the United Nations secretary-general over the incident.

The Kingdom of Jordan condemned the Quran’s desecration in Stockholm “as a reckless act that fuels hatred, and a manifestation of Islamophobia that incites violence and insult to religions”, its foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Prior to this incident in Stockholm, demonstrators in Baghdad had broken into the Swedish Embassy and set fire to it in protest against the individual’s threats to burn the holy book. — Agencies