Riyadh, January 22, 2023, SPA -- Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President of the Council of Senior Scholars and General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh denounced the disgraceful act of an extremist who burnt a copy of the Holy Quran in Stockholm, Sweden, stressing that this act represents a provocative act against 1.5 billion Muslims and fuels strife and serves advocates of extremism. The Grand Mufti praised a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which included the Kingdom’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the Swedish authorities' allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, adding that these demagogic practices develop hatred and serve the agendas of extremism and terrorism and the sources of hatred around the world, calling on the international community to take a firm and strong stance towards those who support and authorize them under any name or slogan. The Grand Mufti reiterated that these barbaric and provocative practices will only increase Muslims’ faith with their belief in the status of the Holy Quran in their hearts, as the Holy Quran constitutes the source of legislation and the correct approach that guides good speech and spreading the values of peace and coexistence among nations. He called on all Muslims to adhere to the Holy Quran and rally around their leaders, adding that these demagogic practices will increase Muslims' adherence to their constants in dealing with these actions with wisdom and unity in confronting hatred, terrorism, and violence behind which the instigators of hatred stand, whether they are states or groups. --SPA 15:36 LOCAL TIME 12:36 GMT 0015 www.spa.gov.sa/w1842701