BANGLADESH Quran burning in Sweden: Islamabad fundamentalists threaten Christians

The terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi announced that “no church will be safe”, while in Bangladesh Muslim associations called for a boycott of Swedish products. According to Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, “the extremists’ statement should not be ignored.” From all over the local Catholic world came words of condemnation of the Stockholm gesture.

Lahore () – The burning of the Koran in Sweden has sparked outrage and reprisals from fundamentalist groups in Pakistan. The terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) announced that it will attack Christians and churches to avenge the act. Specifically, LeJ spokesman Nasser Raisani stated that “no church or Christian will be safe in Pakistan,” adding that he will collaborate with other groups in the region against Christians, who are a persecuted minority in that country and elsewhere. from South Asia.

Salwan Sabah Metti Momika, an Iraqi-born Swedish citizen, burned the Koran in front of Stockholm’s main mosque on June 28, at the start of the celebration of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. He said that he had done it because, according to him, the book incites violence.

A few days ago, Pope Francis expressed his outrage, and the European Union also considered the desecration “offensive” and disrespectful, stating that “in Europe there is no place for manifestations of racism, xenophobia and intolerance.”

For Muslims, the quran it is more important than the Torah, the Gospels or other sacred texts of other religions, because they believe that the author of the scriptures is God himself, and they consider that the prophets are only the transmitters of the divine Word.

The Pakistan-based human rights body of the Catholic Church, the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), strongly condemned the incident.

Bishop Samson Shukardin, Chairman of the Commission, Archbishop Joseph Arshad, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Father Emmanuel Yousaf, National Director of the NCJP, and Executive Director Naeem Yousaf Gill issued a joint statement calling the burning of the Koran “blatant and disrespectful provocation, an act of racism and intolerance”. Expressing their solidarity with their Muslim brothers, they called on Sweden to take concrete steps to ensure respect for all religions: “The government should take steps to prevent such incidents from fueling tensions between citizens on the grounds of faith and religion.” . The Catholic leaders added that “respecting all religions and standing up to hatred and extremism is our divine responsibility.”

In an interview with Ata-ur-Rehman Saman, coordinator of the NCJP, said: “In Pakistan, an extremist Islamic organization declared its intention to attack churches and Christians, making their lives miserable as revenge. These groups have been allowed to act without no state control. This statement should not be ignored, as it leaves the Christian community vulnerable.”

Meanwhile, he continued, a photo of some Muslim clerics who desecrate a cross by trampling on it went viral on social networks. There is no reason to insult the religion of others to calm one’s own feelings.”

Other Muslim-majority countries also sent messages of condemnation. In Bangladesh, the foreign minister summoned the Swedish ambassador, while Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, former Archbishop of Dhaka, declared: “In the name of freedom, people’s religious feelings cannot be hurt. I agree with the Pope Pope Francis expressing pain and indignation at the burning of the Koran in Sweden. Let’s try to be religious while respecting other religions.”

However, even in Bangladesh, Muslim organizations protested and called for a boycott of Swedish products. Islami Andonon, an Islamist party, has called for a protest rally outside the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque for tomorrow, which is expected to be attended by thousands.

According to party secretary Maulana Imtiaz Alam, “Muslim countries should teach a lesson by withdrawing their embassies from Sweden.” For the leaders of the National Teachers’ Forum, however, “the Swedish government should apologize to the Muslim world and publicly hang the culprit. The audacity of burning the Holy Qur’an cannot be forgiven in any way.”

(With the collaboration of Sumon Corraya from Bangladesh)