AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The people of Nigeria in a rally at the capital of the country on Monday condemned the Swedish government for allowing the cremation of the holy Quran during Eid al-Adha prayers in Stockholm.
The protesters in the North Eastern State of Bauchi took to the street on Monday dragging the Sweden flag on the ground and chanting anti-Sweden and anti-Islamophobic slogans.
Some of the slogans say "Nigerian Muslims condemn Sweden","Swedish Government protects criminals","Boycott Swedish products", "We condemn West's hypocrisy on Freedom of speech","Quran is my life".
In an interview with Iran Press during the protest, Bala Hassan one of the protestors said: "We come out in mass to display our dismay over the burning of the Qur'an by one fanatic in Sweden who was backed and covered by the authority of Sweden which is actually against the freedom of speech. Freedom of expression does not warrant one to condemn one's faith or religion. Freedom of expression does not permit one to castigate one's interest."
Bala Hassan also praised the Islamic Republic of Iran for taking necessary action on the sad incident, "We commend a few countries like Iran and some other countries who are making an attempt to withdraw their ambassadors from Sweden. So, we are calling on the responsible organizations to take serious action against the person who burned Quran in Sweden.
The burning of the holy Quran in Sweden at Eid al-Adha one of the holiest days in Islam sparked outrage in many Muslim countries.
Protestors in Baghdad called on the Iraqi government to break off diplomatic relations with Sweden which they called "hostile to Islam."
Authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran have strongly condemned the despicable act of burning the holy Quran by the Swedish fanatic who had been backed by the Scandinavian country's police.
Iran's Foreign Ministry in a statement said "Insulting Muslims' sanctities solely serves to spread hatred and call for violence by abusing the principle of freedom of speech.
"If Sweden had taken action to stop such insults in time, no more desecration of Islamic sanctities would have taken place", the Iranian Government said.
The statement added that "the Islamic Republic, along with the entire Islamic world, does not tolerate any attack on the holy book of the Muslims or any greenlight for such moves, therefore, the Swedish government is expected to fulfill its most obvious duty in preventing insults to the spiritual and religious values of Muslims responsibly and in an effective and preemptive manner.
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