The Sultan of Sokoto and the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar, has condemned the burning of the Quran in front of the main mosque in Stockholm, Sweden.
He described the action as “a provocative and blasphemous act.”
The Sultan, in a statement by the Deputy Secretary-General, NSCIA, Prof Salisu Shehu, on Saturday said the desecration of Islamic symbols by European countries indicated that they fell short of fairness and decorum.
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The Sultan urged Muslims to remain peaceful as he called on Swedish authorities to investigate the matter and ensure justice.
He added, “It is ironic that a blasphemous act of the current magnitude would be allowed in a country often celebrated as one of the most peaceful in the entire Europe. The council is particularly shocked that the supposedly intelligent and civilised Swedish police would fail to restrain, thereby tacitly granting permission for an individual to carry out such an obvious offensive and provocative act of burning a holy book.
“By all measures, European countries that permit or tacitly support sacrilegious acts against Islamic symbols of faith and veneration have fallen short of justice, fairness, honour, and decorum. They have caused irredeemable damage to their image as civilised and humane nations. In the eyes of the Muslim world, their proclamation of democracy, human rights, freedom of religion and similar grandstanding postures are nothing but a façade.”
“The council calls on the Swedish authorities to as a matter of urgency investigate the matter, make the report public and ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done.”
The council enjoined the Ummah worldwide to remain calm and continue to be peaceful and law-abiding in the face of provocation.
The Sultan stated that no holy book should be desecrated and disrespected in such a manner.
“It is our strongest and surest belief that Sweden would never allow its national flag to be burnt in such an ignoble manner, not to talk of burning the Bible,” he added.
(Punch)
