RIYADH:According to state media, Saudi Arabia has summoned the ambassador of Sweden to express its outrage over the desecration of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm, which has sparked a global diplomatic backlash.

The incident occurred last Wednesday, coinciding with the beginning of the Eidul Azha holidays and the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, causing widespread anger. The Saudi foreign ministry called upon the Swedish ambassador on Sunday to demand that Sweden refrain from any actions that directly oppose international efforts to promote values such as tolerance, moderation, and the rejection of extremism. The ministry emphasized the importance of maintaining mutual respect in relations between nations and peoples, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, other countries including Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco have also summoned Swedish ambassadors in protest against the desecration. Iran announced that it would delay sending its new ambassador to Sweden.

The Swedish government publicly condemned the Islamophobic act, stating that it fully understands the offensive nature of such actions towards Muslims. The government clarified that these acts do not reflect its own views. This statement was issued in response to a call made by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a bloc consisting of 57 member states from the Muslim world, which urged global measures to prevent future desecrations of the Quran.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis expressed his anger and disgust over the desecration of the Muslim holy book and denounced the act as a misuse of freedom of speech. In an interview with the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al Ittihad, published on Monday, the Pope stated that freedom of speech should never be utilized to demean others and emphasized his rejection and condemnation of such behavior.

Pope Francis also disapproved of the permission granted by Stockholm authorities to Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi migrant, who carried out the Islamophobic act. He emphasized that any book considered sacred should be respected to honor the beliefs of those who hold it dear