Russia Considers Sweden Unable To Protect Religious Freedom Rights

JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said her party was surprised by the attitude of the Stockholm government which was only "permanent and watching" against the burning of the Quran that had repeatedly occurred in Sweden.

Zakharova said Stockholm failed to fulfill its obligations in providing protection of the rights of religious freedom.

"We strongly condemn such acts of vandalism, which are a manifestation of barbarity and xenophobia (foreigners or something unknown)," he said at a press conference in Moscow as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 7.

He said the number of cases of burning the Koran, which aims to insult the feelings of Muslims, continues to increase in European countries.

The latest case is a "dirty provocation" carried out by a 37-year-old Iraqi immigrant, Salwan Momika, in Stockholm on June 28.

The action was carried out to coincide with Eid al-Adha, which is an important big day in Islam and is celebrated by Muslims around the world.

Momika burned the Muslim holy book in front of a mosque in a move that she thought was an attempt to fight for freedom of expression and support democracy.

"Surprisingly, this outrageous act occurred with the consent and protection of the police," Zakharova said.

Apart from Russia, the burning of the Koran in Sweden has also received widespread criticism from various countries and international organizations, including Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The United Nations Human Rights Council (HAM PBB) will even hold a special emergency meeting to discuss the blasphemy of the Al Quran that occurred in Sweden.