International group calls Muslim scholars to condemn Quran burnings at Friday sermons

By Safiye Karabacak

ISTANBUL (AA) — An association of Muslim scholars on Wednesday made a call for weekly mosque sermons to condemn a recent Quran burning in Sweden and discuss the preservation of sacred sites in Palestine.

"This hateful and provocative criminal act contradicts all values, morals, and the principles of tolerance and respect for religious sanctities of others," said a statement by the International Union of Muslim Scholars, based in Qatar's capital Doha.

It also called attention to a recent incident in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlers ripped up the Muslim holy book and vandalized a mosque in the town of Urif.

"Prior to that, there were offensive cartoons, thus all our sanctities have been violated without an effective response from governments and people," it added.

In response to these incidents, the statement urged scholars to raise awareness, spread knowledge, and protect the sanctities of Islam.

It called upon Muslim scholars to dedicate the Friday on sermon July 7 to "condemn these heinous acts and despicable crimes, and express our unequivocal rejection of any action that targets our great sanctities, emphasizing the importance of the Holy Quran in the lives of all Muslims and the rest of our sanctities."

The governments of Muslim countries should "take practical measures" against such acts, including "fair diplomatic and economic boycotts," it said.

They should also collaborate with human rights organizations to enact laws criminalizing religious defamation, then present measures to the UN to prevent "aggression against religions, as it undermines international security and peace."

The statement also called on minority Muslim populations to hold "peaceful civilized demonstrations, resort to the judiciary, and cooperate with institutions that collaborate with justice and fairness" on the matter.

Last week, a 37-year-old man of Iraqi origin, Salwan Momika, under police protection, burned a copy of the Muslim holy book in front of a Stockholm mosque.

The act was deliberately timed to coincide with Eid al-Adha, a significant Islamic religious festival observed by Muslims worldwide.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from several countries, including Türkiye, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation calling for collective measures to prevent such acts.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul