Iran summons Danish, Swedish charge d’affaires over repeated Qur’an desecration

The Deputy Director General of the Human Rights Department of Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the two chargé d'affaires separately on Sunday.

The Iranian diplomat strongly condemned the continuation of brazen and heinous acts of insulting the Muslim holy book in those two countries, saying that the Islamic Republic believes that the governments of Sweden and Denmark have to bear the full responsibility and serious consequences of this blasphemous move.

The official further warned against the continuation of these "conspiratorial and dangerous" acts, as he referred to earlier remarks made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution that supporting criminals and desecrators of the Holy Qur'an is a kind of declaring war against the Muslim world.

He also urged the two envoys to adhere to international obligations based on Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), stressing that the freedom of expression principle comes with specific duties and responsibilities.

The official concluded his remarks by saying that despite the clear position and serious determination of the freedom-seeking scholars in the world in condemning the sacrilegious act, Sweden and Denmark have remained indifferent to abiding by the resolutions approved by the Human Rights Council as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in this regard.

"Unfortunately, by not showing serious determination and intention in dealing with hate speech and Islamophobia, they continue to support desecrators," he said.

For their part, the two envoys recalled their countries' positions in condemning any desecration of the Holy Qur'an, saying that Sweden and Denmark's governments are resolved to prevent such actions by making changes in their internal laws.

They also said that they would notify their governments about Iran's protest with regard to the acts of desecration.

Over the past months, the holy Muslim book has been subject to acts of desecration by extremist elements in three separate incidents in Sweden and Denmark, whose governments have sanctioned and justified such insults as "freedom of expression."

The sacrilege has ignited the ire of entire Muslim communities across the globe. Several countries have summoned or expelled Swedish and Danish ambassadors.