EU and Iraqi bishops join condemnation of the burning of the Quran in Sweden
By Lisa Zengarini
The European Bishops have joined in condemning the recent burning of the Quran staged in Stockholm last week, expressing solidarity with Muslims offended by the sacrilegious act.
The EU must ensure greater respect for religions and sacred symbols
In a message posted on Twitter on Wednesday, 5 July, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) said it 鈥渟tands in fraternal support with Muslim communities鈥�.
On June 28, during a protest authorised by the police, Salwan Momika, a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin, tore up and set on fire pages of the Islamic holy book, as Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The incident has sparked an outcry of condemnation across the Muslim world including many countries in the Middle East.
The perpetrator argued that it was not a hate crime or incitement against a group of people, but against a book which, he said, instigates violence and murder.
In its post, COMECE decried the desecration, 鈥渁s well as any actions of hatred/incitements to violence鈥�, asking the EU 鈥渢o ensure a greater respect for religions, their sacred symbols".
The message, also attaches a statement by the European Council of Muslim leaders (Eulema), signed by its president Imam Yahya Pallavicini.
Condemnation from Christian Churches
The European Bishops鈥� post adds to the condemnation also expressed by several Christian Churches.
In a statement released last week in the wake of the incident, Swedish Christian Council described it as 鈥渁 deliberate violation of the Muslim faith and identity鈥�, and 鈥漚n attack on all of us people of faith鈥�, expressing solidarity with Muslim believers in Sweden.
Church leaders in Pakistan, where the Christian community has received threats of retaliation from a banned Islamist group, said Quran burnings must stop and called for the respect of the holy books of religions.
Churches in Iraq: a 鈥渄espicable" act and an attack on peace between peoples
In recent days, the Council of Heads of Churches and Christian Communities of Iraq, an ecumenical body including Patriarchs, Bishops and heads of the 14 Churches and Ecclesial Communities present in the country, condemned the desecration as a 鈥渄espicable" act , an incitement to religious hatred and an attack on peace between peoples, which in no way can be justified by the right of freedom of expression.
The sacrilegious act has aroused a strong public reaction in Iraq, and is cause of major concern for the Iraqi Christian community, also because it was carried out by an Iraqi refugee.
In an interview last week, Pope Francis said he was 鈥渙utraged and disgusted by these actions".
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