Ordered By Malaysian PM, Foreign Minister Summons The Swedish Ambassador Regarding The Burning Of Koran

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament. (Wikimedia Commons/Twitter @anwaribrahim)

JAKARTA - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asked Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abdul Kadir to summon the Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia regarding the recent burning of copies of the Koran by a far-right leader in Sweden.

He conveyed this while speaking at a book launch event entitled "Knowledge, Tradition and Civilization: Essays to Honor Prof Osman Bakar" in Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, January 26.

Anwar's response to the burning of copies of the Koran that recently occurred in Sweden is the degradation of humanity and existing values.

Therefore Anwar Ibrahim asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to summon the Swedish Ambassador and convey their disgust at the burning of copies of the Koran that had taken place in that country.

In a press statement published by ANTARA, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) said he summoned the Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the Swedish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to reiterate the Malaysian Government's strong condemnation of Rasmus Palu's heinous act of burning a copy of the Al-Quran in Stockholm on January 21, 2023.

The ministry conveyed Malaysia's objection and disappointment at the Swedish authorities' continued refusal to take action, which allowed Paludan to carry out its acts, including a similar incident in April 2022, despite strong protests from the international community.

The ministry urges the Swedish authorities to take serious steps to combat all forms of violence and hatred of Islam in the country, as doing so will undermine the spirit of peaceful coexistence among multi-religious societies if Islamophobia and xenophobia persist.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded a briefing session held by Swedish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson on 23 January 2023 at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was also attended by representatives of the Embassies of member countries of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) in Stockholm, including Malaysia.

The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement further urged concrete initiatives by the Government of Sweden to direct their position towards respecting the Muslim community as a whole.

According to the statement, the Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the Swedish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur noted the Malaysian Government's protest and will convey it to Stockholm.