EU says manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance have no place in Europe
\nDUBAI
\nThe European Union has expressed its \u201cstrong rejection\u201d of the Qur\u2019an burning in Sweden, and called the act \u201coffensive, and disrespectful and a clear act of provocation.\u201d
\n\u201cThis act in no way reflects the opinions of the European Union\u2026 Manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Europe,\u201d a statement from the bloc said.
\nThe group\u2019s statement added that the Qur\u2019an burning was made even more deplorable at a time when Muslims were celebrating Eid Al-Adha.
\n\u201cThe EU continues to stand up for freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, abroad and at home. Now is the time to stand together for mutual understanding and respect and to prevent any further escalation,\u201d the EU said.
\nThe bloc also noted that it was following developments in Iraq closely as thousands of protesters have converged in front of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Friday to demand an end to diplomatic ties with Stockholm.
\nSalwan Momika, who fled from Iraq to Sweden several years ago, earlier this week stomped on the Qur\u2019an before setting several pages alight in front of the mosque in Stockholm.
\nPolice had granted him a permit for the protest in line with free-speech protections, but was charged for \u201cagitation against an ethnic group.\u201d
\nHis action has drawn widespread condemnation from the Muslim and Arab world, with recalling their envoys and foreign ministries summoning Swedish ambassadors demanding explanation as well as airing their objections.
\nThe Organization of Islamic Cooperation has called an emergency meeting of its executive committee to discuss the consequences of the burning of a copy of the Qur\u2019an in Sweden.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
EU says manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance have no place in Europe DUBAI The European Union has expressed its \u201cstrong rejection\u201d of the Qur\u2019an burning in Sweden, and called the act \u201coffensive, and disrespectful and a clear act of provocation.\u201d \u201cThis act in no way reflects the opinions of the European Union\u2026 Manifestations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":340660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-340634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n