Turkish officers have strongly condemned one more assault towards Islam’s holy guide, the Quran, after the anti-Muslim group PEGIDA desecrated a replica of the Quran in entrance of the Turkish Embassy within the Netherlands.
In an announcement, the Turkish Overseas Ministry mentioned on Saturday that Ankara condemns the unfold of those “provocative assaults,” that are allowed to be carried out in European international locations underneath the guise of freedom of expression.
“The international locations the place such assaults have taken place should now take efficient measures towards these provocations, that are acknowledged by the United Nations as acts of non secular hatred and violations of worldwide legislation,” the assertion additional mentioned.
Türkiye referred to as on the Dutch authorities to take the required actions towards the perpetrators and to take measures to forestall the recurrence of such assaults.
The chief adviser to Erdoğan additionally condemned the latest act towards the Quran on X.
“Towards these sick provocative acts, these international locations and their rulers should now take the required measures!” Akif Çağatay Kılıç mentioned.
Additionally, Türkiye’s parliamentary speaker condemned the “despicable act of an Islamophobic fascist.”
“We perceive as soon as once more that the ideas which are mentioned to carry Europe collectively, comparable to democracy, equality, rule of legislation, respect for beliefs and cultures are literally ignored in the case of Islam and Muslims, and that Western international locations stay silent as standard within the face of such provocative actions. This case is shameful and worrying for the way forward for Europe,” Numan Kurtulmuş mentioned on X.
Earlier, Edwin Wagensveld, the chief of PEGIDA, an Islamophobic group, tore down copies of the Muslim holy guide, the Quran, in entrance of embassies of a number of Muslim international locations, together with the Turkish Embassy.
Islamophobic figures and teams in Northern Europe in latest months have repeatedly carried out Quran burnings and comparable makes an attempt to desecrate Islam’s holy guide, drawing outrage from Muslim international locations and the world.
Presidency of Spiritual Affairs (Diyanet) head Ali Erbaş additionally spoke on the incident on Sunday, saying that these acts disrupt social peace and human rights.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, for his half, mentioned that no nation that’s principled on common human rights can keep silent within the face of those assaults.
“Acts of hate that disregard worldwide legislation, the most recent instance of which we noticed within the Netherlands, are a transparent assault on common values in addition to our faith. Dutch judicial authorities should take quick motion and make sure that those that dedicated this motion are held accountable earlier than the judiciary,” he mentioned.
Türkiye has continuously emphasised that assaults on holy values don’t represent freedom of speech.
Beforehand, Rasmus Paludan, a Danish far-right politician and chief of the Stram Kurs (Onerous Line) Get together, continued provocations by burning the Quran within the Swedish cities of Malmo, Norkopin, Jonkoping and Stockholm throughout the Easter holidays in 2022.
Paludan burned the holy guide in entrance of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Jan. 21 and the Danish capital, Copenhagen, on Jan. 27.
Wagensveld tore the Quran in a one-person demonstration in The Hague on Jan. 22, underneath police safety and once more on Feb. 13 within the metropolis of Utrecht.
Muslim teams gathered on the website the place an indication in Rotterdam was deliberate and held a counter-demonstration. PEGIDA’s demonstration was not banned regardless of the announcement that the group’s members would burn the Quran.
On Aug. 18, Wagensveld once more tore the Quran in entrance of the Turkish Embassy in The Hague.
In Stockholm, Salwan Momika set the Quran on hearth underneath police safety in entrance of the Stockholm Mosque on June 28, which coincided with the primary day of the Islamic vacation of Eid al-Adha.
Momika trampled the Quran and the Iraqi flag underneath police safety in entrance of the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on July 20 and the Swedish Parliament on July 31 and July 14.
Bahrami Marjan, who’s of Iranian descent, burned the Quran on Angbybadet seashore in Stockholm on Aug. 3 underneath the safety of police.