Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, made a statement as the term president of the Parliamentary Union of the IOC member states regarding the burning of Holy Quran in Sweden.

In his statement as the Chairman-in-Office of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mustafa Şentop said: "We condemn the demand to burn the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, the approval of this despicable act by the Swedish authorities and the realization of this heinous act in the strongest terms as the COMCEC, on behalf of the peoples represented by the member parliaments of the COMCEC, as the Chairman-in-Office.

The full text of Şentop’s statement is as follows:

Burning the Holy Qur’an in Sweden is burning the humanity

We have learned with regret that terrorist acts and the work of terrorist organizations are allowed in Sweden yet again and a despicable attack against our Holy Book, the Qur'an, has been permitted and carried out.

In my capacity as the PUIC President, on behalf of the peoples represented by the PUIC member parliaments, we as the PUIC condemn in the strongest terms possible the request to burn the Holy Qur’an in front of Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Stockholm, the approval of this despicable act by the Swedish authorities and the perpetration of this heinous act.

It is clearly a hypocrisy to allow the burning of the Qur'an, the most fundamental value and identity of Muslims, in Sweden, while expecting human rights and different lifestyles to be respected in other countries. Allowing these provocative attempts, which recklessly and despicably target Islam's most fundamental values and Muslims, can never be characterized as an exercise of freedom. With their decision, the Swedish authorities have become partners in this blatant hate crime which depicts Muslims and their beliefs as “those who must be destroyed”. This decision is also an indication of the Swedish authorities’ incompetence to keep people living together in peace, tranquility and security as well as an indication of the lack of a healthy perspective.

This despicable and hideous act that divides, marginalizes and incites societies against each other is not only an example of hate speech and an act of Islamophobia, but also a crime against humanity in every aspect.

This action is no different from what the Nazis did in Germany, first to the Jewish values and then to Jews themselves. It is obvious that such acts, unless prevented and the perpetrators are not punished severely, will pave the way for a contemporary version of Nazism, which flourished on European soil before and first set Europe and then the whole world on fire.

As Muslims, we believe that all human beings, regardless of religion, language, ethnic origin and social status, have a sacred value by virtue of their creation and we approach the values and sanctities of all societies with the same respect and stand against all kinds of attacks against them. We believe that the establishment of a climate of real peace, tranquility and prosperity all over the world will only be possible if all states, intellectuals, opinion leaders and even individuals adopt this principled, consistent and humane understanding.

We call on the international community and international judicial institutions, notably the Swedish authorities to take action to initiate legal proceedings against those who attack the most fundamental holiness of Muslims, and those who openly wage war against different beliefs and lifestyles, as well as on the judicial institutions of the countries the perpetrators visit to take action if and when these perpetrators leave Sweden. (ILKHA)