Indonesia Kutuk Burns Al Qur'an In Sweden

JAKARTA - Indonesia also strongly condemns the burning of the Al-Quran by a Swedish-Denmark far-right extremist in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday.

"Indonesia strongly condemns the burning of the holy book Al-Quran by Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish politician, in Stockholm," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement via its official account on Twitter on Sunday, citing Antara.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the action was blasphemy and hurt and tarnished religious tolerance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized that freedom of expression should be done responsibly.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom has responded to incidents of burning the Al-Quran in her country.

"Islamophobia provocations are dire. Sweden upholds freedom of expression, but that doesn't mean the Swedish government, or myself, supports the opinion expressed," Billstrom said on Twitter.

Billstrom previously said that the demonstration could increase the risk of delaying approval from Turkey at Sweden's request to become a NATO member.

Quoted from the Turkish news agency Anadolu, Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Stram Kurs Party (Garis Keras) burned the Al Quran prayer room with the permission of the government and police protection.

The Swedish government allowed the burning of the Quran because it considered it to be part of freedom of expression and opinion.

The arson took place during a demonstration opposing Turkey's request last week for Sweden to take firm steps against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) which Turkey considers a terror group.

Sweden and Finland have officially volunteered to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) last year.

However, Turkey expressed objections and accused the two countries of tolerate and even support terror groups, including the PKK and the terrorist organization Fetullah (FETO).