House of Representatives’ (DPR RI’s) Commission I is seeking to raise the Quran-burning incident in Stockholm, Sweden, at the bilateral or multilateral level, according to legislator Dave Akbarshah Fikarno.
The parliamentary commission will proceed with the action if no firm follow-up action is taken after the Foreign Affairs Ministry summoned Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Marina Berg, he stated.
Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah had earlier confirmed that the ministry planned to summon the Swedish ambassador over the incident.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has planned to summon ambassador (Marina Berg), and if no firm and clear (follow-up) action is taken, (DPR RI) Commission I will raise the issue at the bilateral or multilateral level,” Fikarno stated here Tuesday.
He said that the Quran-burning incident, perpetrated by far-right activist Rasmus Paludan on Saturday (January 21), is a grave insult against Muslims worldwide.
“As a nation that respects religious communities, we are obliged to condemn such actions,” the legislator affirmed.
The Swedish government should not justify the action in the name of democracy and freedom of speech, as it has huge consequences and could cause conflict, he underscored.
“(The Quran burning) could also cause greater division and fuel conflicts,” Fikarno emphasized.
As quoted from Turkish news agency Anadolu, Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), was given permission to burn the Quranat in a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm on Saturday.
The demonstration was staged to protest the Turkish government’s demand on Sweden to take steps against the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK) in the country, which Turkey recognized as a terrorist organization.
While criticizing the Quran burning, the Swedish authority defended its decision to allow the act to go ahead in the name of democracy and freedom of speech. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also expressed his sympathy to Muslims worldwide that are offended by Paludan’s action.
Source: Antara News