Saudi Arabia, MWL and GCC condemn extremist group for tearing up Qur’an outside embassies in The Hague

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, the Muslim World League (MWL) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strongly condemned and denounced an extremist group for tearing up copies of the Holy Qur’an outside a number of embassies in The Hague.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s complete rejection of such repeated and hateful acts that cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

Such acts clearly incite hatred, exclusion, and racism, and directly contradict international efforts aiming to spread the values of tolerance, moderation, and rejection of extremism, the ministry said.

The acts also undermine the necessary mutual respect for relations between peoples and countries, the ministry added.

For its part, the Muslim World League said it is time for countries concerned "to take effective measures to prevent these heinous crimes."

"Repeatedly tearing up copies of the Qur’an is a provocation to the feelings of Muslims," said the group in a statement posted on X, formerly named Twitter. The Makkah-based MWL is an international NGO that "promotes the true message of Islam by advancing moderate values that promote peace, tolerance and love."

In a separate statement, the six-nation GCC called on countries where these provocations against Muslims are happening "to intervene and to assume their legal and moral responsibilities to end such internationally rejected practices." 

"GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi reiterates the call once again to the international community to take urgent and effective international steps to confront these aggressive and provocative actions, as these practices have unfortunately been repeated recently under the pretext of freedom of expression, without any clear reaction to them," said the statement posted on the GCC website.

Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands have seen a string of protests in public in recent months where copies of the Qur’an have been burned or otherwise damaged, prompting outrage in Muslim nations.

Denmark has announced its plan to propose a legislation that would outlaw hateful acts targetting religions, including the burning or desecration of the Qur'an and other holy books.