UAE summons Swedish envoy to protest Quran burning

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday summoned Swedish Ambassador Liselott Andersson to protest the burning of the Muslim holy book Quran in Sweden.

A statement by the UAE Foreign Ministry said the envoy was summoned by Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy to convey the Gulf state’s protest against the Quran burning by extremists in Sweden.

She also "affirmed the UAE's rejection of all practices that offend religions,” and stressed “the need to respect religious symbols and avoid incitement and polarization,” the statement said.

On Sunday, Iraq summoned the Swedish charge d'affaires, Hakan Rooth, to protest last week’s burning of copies of the Quran by Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) group, in the southern Linkoping city.

Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and a host of Arab and Muslim countries and organizations have condemned the Quran burning, terming the act as provocation and incitement against Muslims.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar