According to the EU, burning a copy of the Quran or any other holy book “is offensive, disrespectful, and a clear act of provocation.”
On Wednesday, a man identified as Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Muslim holy book in front of a Stockholm mosque while under police protection.
The desecration was scheduled to coincide with Eid al-Adha, one of the most important Islamic religious festivals observed by Muslims around the world.
“Manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance have no place in Europe,” said Nabila Massrali, the EU’s foreign affairs and security policy spokesperson.
“The EU joins the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in strongly condemning an individual’s burning of a Quran in Sweden.” This act does not reflect the views of the European Union.”
“It is even more deplorable that such an act was carried out on the important Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha,” she continued.