Foreign Ministry denounces 'provocative' Koran burning in Sweden

The Foreign Ministry condemned Thursday as "violent" and "provocative" the burning of a copy of the Koran by an Iraqi living in Sweden during a protest authorized by the police.

Under a heavy police presence, Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old who fled to Sweden several years ago, on Wednesday stomped on the Koran before setting several pages alight in front of Stockholm's largest mosque.

Police had granted him a permit for the protest in line with free-speech protections, but said later it had opened an investigation into the Koran burning which sparked anger across the Muslim world.

The incident occurred as Muslims around the world marked the Eid al-Adha holiday.

"These acts are an assault on the sanctities of Muslims," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"They promote violence and hatred and are against the principles of tolerance and coexistence between religions."

Hezbollah and some Lebanese MPs also condemned the Koran burning.

"Swedish authorities are responsible since they gave a permit to the protesters," Hezbollah said in a statement.

The Iraqi government in a statement issued late Wednesday strongly condemned "the repeated acts of burning copies of the holy Koran".

Iran joined in the condemnation on Thursday, calling the Koran burning "provocative, ill-considered and unacceptable".

Morocco, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations also condemned the Koran burning and Morocco recalled its ambassador to Stockholm late Wednesday.

In January, a Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist burned a copy of the Koran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, also triggering outrage in the Muslim world.