Thousands of Bangladeshis protest burning of Quran's copy in Sweden

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – A religiopolitical party in Bangladesh staged a rally in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday to denounce the burning of a copy of the holy Quran in Sweden.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activists, led by its leaders, marched down the capital's main street, with thousands chanting slogans condemning the Swedish government for allowing such an act, which the protesters described as hate-spreading and Islamophobic.

Rasmus Paludan, a leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) who obtained Swedish nationality in 2020, burned a copy of the Muslims' holy book outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday after receiving Swedish government approval for the "Islamophobic act in the guise of free expression."

Paludan organized a number of such events in which a copy of the Quran was burned after founding the Stram Kurs in 2017, sparking worldwide criticism.

Condemnation erupted from peace-loving people, particularly Muslims, around the world in response to Paludan's latest act and the Swedish government's approval, which amounted to harming religious harmony and hurting the sentiments of approximately two billion Muslims worldwide.

Jamaat leader Helal Uddin, while addressing the procession-after demonstrations, called on the Bangladesh government to issue a stronger condemnation of the "heinous act" and proceed with a ruling in the country’s national parliament, Jatiya Sangshad, condemning the burning of a copy of Muslims' divine book.

"Burning the copy of the holy Quran means setting fire to the hearts of 2 billion Muslims around the world. We hope that, in light of the worldwide outrage, the Swedish government realizes it and brings the perpetrators to justice for the act of hurting the religious feelings of peace-loving Muslims," Uddin added.

Earlier, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry, as well as some other institutes and parties, condemned the act in Sweden, calling it harmful and a threat to peaceful coexistence.