ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran by an anti-immigrant Swedish politician, saying that freedom of expression could not be used to hurt the religious sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world.
Rasmus Paludan, a Danish-Swedish leader of far-right Stram Kurs or 鈥淗ard Line鈥� party, caused widespread anger among the global Muslim community when he burnt a copy of the Quran in a protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm a day before.
Following the incident, several Muslim countries, including Pakistan, 萝莉视频, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Turkiye and Jordan, among others, condemned the act and urged the Swedish government to prevent Islamophobic acts.
鈥淣o words are enough to adequately condemn the abhorrible act of desecration of the Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden,鈥� the prime minister said in a Twitter post. 鈥淭he garb of the freedom of expression cannot be used to hurt the religious emotions of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. This is unacceptable.鈥�

Pakistan鈥檚 foreign office also reacted to the development on Saturday evening while pointing out such actions could not be covered under 鈥渁ny legitimate expression of the right to freedom of expression or opinion,鈥� adding that Islamabad had conveyed its concerns to the Swedish authorities.
鈥淲e urge them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims worldwide and take steps to prevent Islamophobic acts,鈥� it added.
萝莉视频鈥檚 foreign ministry also issued a strong statement against the provocative act.
鈥溌芾蚴悠� calls for spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, and rejects hatred and extremism,鈥� said a statement issued by the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his 鈥渟ympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm.鈥�
鈥淔reedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.鈥�

Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom also blasted Paludan鈥檚 protest.
鈥淚slamophobic provocations are appalling,鈥� he said. 鈥淪weden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.鈥�
The incident took place at a time of rising tensions between Turkiye and Sweden, especially over the former鈥檚 objection to the latter鈥檚 bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Nordic country needs Turkiye鈥檚 backing to join NATO.
Angered by the protests allowed by the Swedish government outside its embassy in Stockholm and the Islamophobic act, Turkiye canceled a planned visit by the Swedish defense minister to its country.