Iraqis raise copies of the Quran, Muslims' holy book, during a protest in Baghdad, Iraq, July 22, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
ANKARA/BAGHDAD/SANAA – The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly condemned the repeated vile attacks against the Islamic holy book of Quran in Denmark's capital Copenhagen.
"The Danish authorities must act within the framework of their international responsibilities and take the necessary measures to prevent these heinous acts that fuel hatred against the religion of Islam and its billions of followers," the ministry said in a statement.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also condemned the burning of a Quran in Denmark.
"These acts incite extremism and hatred and pose a real threat to peaceful coexistence," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
READ MORE: Iran, Pakistan condemn Quran desecration in Sweden, Denmark
It called on the authorities of the European Union countries to "expedite a review of the so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate and adopt a clear collective position to prevent such acts."
The protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans, called for a boycott of Swedish and Danish goods and for the governments of those countries to apologize to Muslims
In a separate statement on Monday, the ministry spokesman Ahmed al-Sahaf said the Danish diplomatic mission in Baghdad left Iraqi territory two days ago.
Rally held in Yemen
Meanwhile, thousands of Yemenis rallied in the rebel-held capital Sanaa to condemn the recent desecration of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark.
The protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans, called for a boycott of Swedish and Danish goods and for the governments of those countries to apologize to Muslims.
ALSO READ: Iraq expels Swedish ambassador, recalls envoy over Quran burning
The protesters also accused the West of harboring a "hatred" of Islam and Muslims.
Earlier on Monday, two protesters from the far-right Danish group of Danske Patrioter set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen, where it held a similar demonstration on July 21 in protest against the Iraqis' storming of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
The incident is the second in just a few days where protesters from an ultranationalist group have burned the Quran.
READ MORE: Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed, set alight
Demonstrations have raged across Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules of protecting free speech. Furious protesters set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday. Iraq also expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its charge d'affaires from Sweden.