Chairperson of the House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Fadli Zon. Photo: Dok/nr

Not long ago, Muslim communities worldwide were shocked by the burning of the holy Quran by right-wing Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan in early 2023. Now, the country has called the world’s attention as the Swedish police reportedly allowed a protest where demonstrators burned the Quran in front of Sodermalm Mosque in Stockholm, coinciding with Eid al-Adha on Wednesday (28/6/2023).

The burning sparked anger and condemnation among Muslim communities all over the world. In Indonesia, Chairperson of the House Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Fadli Zon, said he would lodge a protest over the immoral action with the Swedish Parliament.

He urged the Swedish Parliament and government to take firm action against the burning as it violates people’s freedom to embrace faith. He also believed that the burning stirred up hatred and was a smear campaign against Islam and the Muslim community. “The action by some Swedish individuals reflects Islamophobia that potentially destroys good relationships among countries,” he said in a press statement obtained by Parlamentaria in Jakarta on Tuesday (4/7/2023).

The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party politician strongly condemned the burning of the Muslim’s holy book. Prior to this, he also made strong condemnation against a similar action when a Swedish politician burned the Quran.

Fadli Zon said he was committed to holding religious values and mutual respect for different faiths. But Nevertheless, democracy as freedom of expression should not be misused to incite hatred and divisions.

He also called on parliaments across the world to promote inter-religious harmony and combat Islamophobia and any kind of hatred against religion, ethnicity, and race. (ssb/aha-mut)