Stressing the importance of concerted efforts to spread the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday the provocations and incitement against Muslims by some extremists in Sweden who have also deliberate abused the Muslim Holy book of Qur’an.
Highlighting the efforts to prevent abuse of all religions and holy sites, Saudi Arabia also emphasized in the statement denouncing hatred, extremism, and exclusion.
Riots erupted in several Swedish towns over the Easter weekend culminating with clashes between police and protesters on Sunday following Qur’an burnings by the anti-immigrant group Stram Kurs, or Hard Line, at the right-wing extremist rally.
The far-right group planned and acquired permission for the series of events to take place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the violence began on Thursday after a demonstration organized by Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish Hard Line.
Paludan is known for Qur’an burnings.
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has also condemned the violence since three people in the Swedish city of Norrkoping needed medical attention after being hit by police bullets.
According to media reports, at least 16 law enforcement officers have been wounded and several police vehicles destroyed in clashes between far-right demonstrators and counter-protesters since last Thursday in Stockholm and other cities.
Ahead of the demonstration in which Stram Kurs planned to burn a Quran in the central city of Orebro on Friday, 12 officers were wounded, and four police vehicles were set alight, and after Stram Kurs moved its demonstration to Malmo Saturday night, the southern town of Landskron witnessed stone-throwing and objects set alight.
The counter-protesters attacked police in some places even ahead of the planned right-wing extremist demonstrations.
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