Hundreds Of Angry M'sians March To Swedish Embassy To Protest Quran Burning In Stockholm

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The Quran burning on 21 January was carried out by Rasmus Paludan, a small-time Danish-Swedish politician and far-right extremist who has held several demonstrations in which the Quran has been burned.

The Quran burning caused backlash from Muslim countries across the world, but Swedish authorities stated that the demonstration by Paludan did not violate any of the country's laws.

In Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the act as a "hate crime" while calling the burning of the Quran a "grave provocation" to the more than two billion Muslims across the world.

"We, in Malaysia, will not tolerate the burning of the Quran, the Bible, and Hindu texts," Anwar said, adding, "The burning of the Quran is aimed at provoking (Muslims) and causing discord".

While the first group marched at 8.30am from the Tabung Haji Mosque, the other group began its march from the As-Syakirin KLCC Mosque at about 2pm after the compulsory Muslim Friday prayers.

The protestors marched to the Swedish Embassy today despite a warning from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), cautioning willing participants that they risk violating public assembly laws.

"The police did not receive any notification of assembly from any party as provided under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. Assembly without notification is an offence under Section 9(5) of the same act," Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya said.

Young children were also spotted among the first group of protesters from a local hardline Muslim group, Hizbut Tahrir. The protestors were carrying an assortment of flags, banners, and posters, while chanting sentiments in Malay like "hancur Sweden, hancur Barat" (destroy Sweden, destroy the West).

The second group that marched after Friday prayers included leaders from PAS, Bersatu, and Muslim groups. Local rapper Ariz Ramli, better known by his stage name Caprice, was also spotted in the crowd.

"As long as there is no apology, we will continue to hold demonstrations," Malay Mail reported Hizbut Tahrir leader Mu'adz Abu Thalhah as saying, who also urged the Malaysian government to mobilise its military forces to "teach" the Westerners a "lesson".

"The only viable response is to teach them a lesson through jihad," he said.

Meanwhile, some of the second group of protestors, represented by Perikatan Nasional (PN), entered the embassy under police guard to submit a memorandum condemning the Quran burning.

"The ministry conveyed Malaysia's objection and disappointment with the Swedish authorities' continuous refusal to take action and allowing Rasmus Paludan to indulge in his foul antics, including a similar incident in April 2022, despite strong protest from the international community," read a statement from the ministry.

According to the ministry, the Swedish authorities must undertake serious measures to combat all forms of violence and hatred against Islam in Sweden, adding that the spirit of peaceful co-existence in a multi-religious society could be undermined if Islamophobia and xenophobia continue to prevail.