Clashes erupted in several southern cities of Sweden after burning of the Quran by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party.
At least 40 people were injured in clashes that broke out over Easter weekend in southern Sweden following a far-right anti-Muslim rally.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries strongly condemned the abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran during the rally in Sweden and the offensive remarks by the Dutch politician, attacking Islam and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Arab countries with Muslim majority populations have also condemned the burnings of the Quran, as Saudi Arabia called Paludan’s actions a “deliberate abuse of the Holy Qur’an.”
In a statement published on their state news agency SPA on Sunday, the kingdom called the burnings “provocations and incitement against Muslims by some extremists in Sweden” and stressed “the importance of concerted efforts to spread the values of dialogue, tolerance and coexistence, reject hatred, extremism and exclusion, and prevent abuse of all religions and sanctities.”
Eight people were arrested in Norrkoping and 18 others were held in Linkoping, police said in a statement on Monday, adding that protesters in Norrkoping numbering about 150 threw stones at officers and set cars on fire.
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“Police fired several warning shots. Three people seem to have been hit by ricochets and are now being cared for in hospital,” police said about Norrkoping, adding none of the injuries was life-threatening.
Twenty-six police officers and 14 civilians were injured, police added.
On Sunday, clashes erupted in both cities for the second time in four days over rallies by anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, led by the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan.
The violence began after a demonstration was organised by Paludan.
Paludan, who had permission for a series of demonstrations across Sweden during the Easter weekend, is known for Quran burnings.