News - Middle East: Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the Muslim world will never overlook the recent act of sacrilege against the Holy Qur'an in a Western country.

The Iranian president made the remarks while addressing the Friday prayer event in the city of Rafsanjan, in the southeastern province of Kerman, in reaction to the blasphemous burning of a copy of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, in Sweden’s capital during a protest authorized by police as Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) holiday.
Raeisi said "the most valuable divine book" has been disrespected in recent days in a Western country that claims to defend free expression.
He said the move has not only upset two billion Muslims but also the followers of all divine religions.

"An insult to our beloved Qur'an is an insult to all divine religions, humanity and all divine values, which the Islamic society will not tolerate," the Iranian president said.

In a repeated and state-authorized instance of sacrilege against the Muslim holy book, two men stood outside the central mosque in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Wednesday and burned a copy of the holy book following a go-ahead given to them by a Swedish court.
The move was made to coincide with the Muslim festivity of Eid al-Adha, which marks the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage that is partaken by millions of Muslims from across the world.
Raeisi also said the youth should realize how those who claim to champion freedom of expression arrogantly carried out a blasphemous act against Muslim sanctities. "They are lying and do not support freedom of expression and opinion. They oppose freedom and seek to impose their despotism in the form of freedom of expression on humanity."
The Iranian president said the Qur'an is a manifestation of freedom that teaches humanity but those who insult the sanctities are against freedom of expression.