Indonesia Strongly Condemns the Quran Burning in Front of the Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen

Jakarta: Indonesia strongly condemns the Al-Qur'an burning which was carried out in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. This action was carried out by the ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter (Patriot Denmark).

"We very strongly condemn the burning of the holy Qur'an," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Monday, August 14, 2023.

"Every time an arson occurs, we send a very strong record of decline to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Danish Ambassador or Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim in Indonesia are also summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," she added.

Retno said, every time there was an act of burning the Qoran, Indonesia always sent a strong protest note.

"I also received a call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and I conveyed Indonesia's very firm position on this issue and the position of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries," said Retno.

Freedom of expression

Retno reiterated that the burning of the holy Quran cannot be labeled as freedom of expression.

"I say: Don't hide behind freedom of expression. This hurts Muslims all over the world, and it shouldn't be done," she stressed.

Retno added that this could spread hatred. "This triggering action spreads hatred and is very different from our desire to continue to maintain interfaith dialogue," she concluded.

The most recent action of burning the Qoran in Denmark took place on Friday and Saturday. Initially this group set fires in front of the Turkish Embassy in Copenhagen, and then continued to the Indonesian Embassies in Copenhagen, Pakistan, Algeria and Morocco.

"The perpetrators shouted anti-Islamic slogans during the provocative action, which took place under police protection," a police statement said.

"The attack was broadcast live by the group on their social media accounts," they commented.