Swedish rabbi stresses Quran burning sought to provoke, hurt Muslim community

By Dilara Karatas

ANKARA (AA) – A Swedish rabbi stressed that the recent burning of the holy Quran in the capital Stockholm was an effort to provoke and hurt the Muslim community.

Calling the burning very disturbing and criticizing Swedish officials for permitting the provocation, Rabbi Moshe-David HaCohen, co-director of the AMANAH Muslim Jewish Partnership of Trust, stressed that it was also a first step in creating “otherness.”

Jews know from their own history how Nazi Germany making them into the “other” eventually led to the Holocaust, he said.

But HaCohen also stressed that Muslims are not alone in this.

“We know how it feels. We are with you 100%,” he said, adding: “Let’s work together and we can create a better future together.”

On Saturday, a Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist burned a copy of the Quran in a police-approved protest in the capital Stockholm.

The provocation led to outrage and condemnation from countries worldwide, in particular countries with Muslim majorities.