Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has censured the latest incident of desecration of the Holy Quran, calling it “Satanic” and urging world governments to end such abhorrent practices.
On Monday, in yet another incendiary attempt to infuriate Muslims all around the world, two Danish men desecrated the Holy Quran by burning a copy of it in front of the Iraqi embassy in Denmark.
The two protesters were from a group that calls itself “Danish Patriots”, which held a similar demonstration last week and live-streamed the events on Facebook.
Read more: Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over planned Quran burning
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said left Muslims all over the world deeply anguished. He denounced the recurring practice of burning the Quran and called it Satanic.
“The latest incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in front of an Iraqi Embassy in Denmark has left Muslims all over the world deeply anguished. We, in Pakistan, are in deep pain and distress,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
“The recurring pattern of these abominable and Satanic incidents has a sinister design: to hurt the inter-faith relations, damage peace and harmony and promote religious hatred and Islamophobia,” he further added.
“I call upon the governments and faith leaders in particular to put an end to such abhorrent practices. Let us not allow a handful of misguided and evil people to hurt the emotions of billions of people. Let them not dictate their nefarious agenda,” he also said.
The latest incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in front of an Iraqi Embassy in Denmark has left Muslims all over the world deeply anguished. We, in Pakistan, are in deep pain and distress. The recurring pattern of these abominable and Satanic incidents has a sinister…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 25, 2023
The Quran-burning incidents in both Sweden and Denmark have triggered protests from Muslim countries. The whole issue was triggered first when an Iraqi refugee named Salwan Momika in Sweden burned pages of a Quran in front of Stockholm’s largest mosque on June 28 during the Islamic Eid al-Adha festival.
The incident prompted widespread anger in Iraq and several other protests in Muslim-majority countries. Even Pope Francis condemned Momika’s actions, saying he feels “angry and disgusted” to see the Muslim holy book desecrated.
Read more: Second Quran desecration incident in Sweden sparks outrage and diplomatic tensions
However, the burning of the Quran again took place in Sweden and even in Denmark. Mass protests erupted in Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the desecration of the Holy Quran under rules protecting free speech. Protesters in Iraq set alight the Swedish embassy in Baghdad Thursday.