In response to the Quran copy burning in Denmark, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow “strongly condemns the action.”
“We strongly condemn this and similar extremist acts. It is inappropriate to show disrespect for any religion,” she stressed.
According to the spokeswoman, such manifestations “are no longer uncommon” in Denmark.
“We observe how religious radicals, feeling their impunity, now in one, then in another European capital … with maniacal persistence carry out egregious crimes against Islam, mocking the holy Quran,” the diplomat said.
Zakharova also pointed out that mocking the feelings of believers has nothing in common with a demonstration of freedom of speech and democracy, which the Danish authorities use “to cover” manifestations of aggressive “barbarism and xenophobia.”
The official warned that if the authorities do not interfere and stop such actions, they will lead to lawlessness, which “does not choose its victims.”
“We expect the Danish authorities to stop condoning incitement of inter-religious strife and will take all necessary measures against radicals,” she stressed.
Twice copies of the Holy Quran were burned in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen within a week by members of the Islamophobic, far-right nationalist group “Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots).”
Earlier in the month, Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, stomped and kicked the Holy Quran, just weeks after he set fire to pages of the holy book outside a Stockholm mosque.
Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, stomped and kicked the Holy Quran just days after he set fire to pages of the holy book outside a Stockholm mosque.
While in January, Rasmus Paludan, a far-right Danish leader, burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.