The Thursday statement said that such provocative moves are being plotted and implemented by extremists, and their persistence, as well as lack of deterrent measures and legal prosecution of offenders, can lead to hatred and violence among people, religions and cultures.
Freedom of expression is considered a fundamental principle of human rights, which should not be misused as an excuse for desecrating religions, divine books or emblems, as well as national values of nations, the embassy emphasized.
The statement was issued after nationalist, Islamophobic and right-wing extremist groups in Denmark desecrated holy books of the Abrahamic religions and national symbols of Iran in recent weeks.
Last Friday, members of a Danish patriotic group burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen, and at the same time, another group desecrated Iran’s national emblems.
Denmark’s ambassador to Tehran Jesper Vahr was summoned to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An Iranian diplomat condemned violation of Islamic sanctities anywhere in the world, and addressed the ambassador by saying that burning of holy books in Europe reminds us of the dark Age of Ignorance and medieval times, which is the greatest threat to freedom of thought in the West.
The Danish envoy expressed regret for the desecration, and said that Denmark’s government separates itself from such shameful provocations, which have no objective other than to sow discord.
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