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Pope condemns

desecration of

the Holy Quran

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Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis said the burning of the Holy Quran has made him angry and disgusted and that he condemned and rejected permitting the act as a form of freedom of speech.

Published: Mon 3 Jul 2023, 10:43 AM

Updated: Mon 3 Jul 2023, 10:03 PM

  • By
  • Reuters

"Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it," the pope said in an interview in the UAE-based newspaper Al Ittihad, published on Monday. "I feel angry and disgusted at these actions.

"Freedom of speech should never be used as a means to despise others and allowing that is rejected and condemned."

A man tore up and burned the holy book in Sweden's capital Stockholm last week, resulting in strong condemnation from several states, including Turkey whose backing Sweden needs to gain entry to the Nato military alliance.

While Swedish police have rejected several recent applications for anti-Quran demonstrations, courts have over-ruled those decisions, saying they infringed freedom of speech.

On Sunday, an Islamic grouping of 57 states said collective measures are needed to prevent acts of desecration to the Holy Quran and international law should be used to stop religious hatred.

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