Top Turkish religious body to take Sweden Quran burning to courts abroad

By Firat Tasdemir

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye's top religious body Diyanet announced on Monday plans to take legal action abroad against a recent burning of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, in Sweden.

Days after a Danish far-right politician burned a copy of the Quran, outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, Diyanet head Ali Erbas told reporters in the capital Ankara that the body's diplomatic attaches and consultants in 120 countries would be "applying to the courts."

Erbas said the Diyanet and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) were planning an online meeting on the subject Wednesday. "We will raise our voice not only against the heinous Quran burning in Sweden, but also against Islamophobic attacks in European countries."

He said they would also reach the representatives of different organizations via letters.

"We will also show our stance against such attacks on the Quran and mosques by writing letters to various places," said Erbas.

"All intellectuals, academics, activists, non-governmental organizations, members of media outlets, and right-minded people who believe in law and human rights and prioritize respect for faith and social peace in Europe should raise their voice against these overt attacks against the sacred."

Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Party, under the protection of police and with permission from the government, burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.