American rights group urges Swedish government to condemn Qur’an burning

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, urged the Swedish government to “clearly” condemn anti-Muslim bigotry and treat all acts of hate equally after a far-right extremist burned a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm with government authorization on Sunday.

In a letter sent to Swedish Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter today, CAIR called on the government of Sweden condemn this most recent case of a far-right extremist burning the Quran with the same seriousness that it responds to all other acts of hate and bigotry.

It added,” The government of Sweden should clearly state that it condemns Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in all its forms, including the desecration of the Quran. “

American Muslim civil rights group also recommended the Swedish government to appoint a civil servant responsible for combatting, monitoring, reporting on, and diffusing Islamophobic bias incidents and hate crimes.

CAIR continued, “Such an appointment could address the continuing rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in Sweden and respond to future anti-Muslim acts” demanding the Swedish government to directly engage with Swedish Muslim civil society organizations and community members when responding to such acts of hate.

Danish-Swedish far-right activist Rasmus Paludan burnt a copy of holy Qur’an in front of Turkish embassy in the capital Stockholm on Saturday under tight protection of the police.

The Qur’an burning was held following an hour of hate speech by the extremist Paludan for which he had received permission from the Swedish government.

The heinous measure has drawn much condemnation and massive protests from across the world of Islam.