Pakistan has condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark and reiterated that freedom of expression comes with responsibilities.

“This repetition of the vile act leaves little doubt in the minds of Muslims around the world that freedom of expression is being blatantly abused to spread religious hatred and incitement to violence,” the Foreign Office said on Saturday.

Right-wing Swedish-Danish politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Islamic holy book in front of Turkey’s embassy in the Swedish capital on Saturday, followed days later by a one-man anti-Islam protest in The Hague targeting the holy book.

Paludan has vowed to stage weekly actions involving the Holy Quran until Turkey approves Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership. Swedish leaders have strongly condemned Paludan’s action but defended their country’s broad acceptance of free speech.

Several thousand people rallied in Pakistan after Friday prayers to voice outrage over the vile act.

At least 5,000 people marched through in Lahore chanting “Quran is printed in our hearts” and “I am a protector of the Quran” in a rally organised by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. A smaller protest of about 1,000 people was held in Karachi and Swedish flags were torn up in both cities.

Small protests were also held in several cities in neighbouring Afghanistan, where men, some carrying Taliban flags, were allowed to take part in rare and brief street demonstrations sanctioned by the interim government.

The incidents have been condemned by world leaders as well as the United Nations and the European Union.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office also called into question the legal framework behind which such people hide and “spread hatred” with impunity. Pakistan stressed the need for increasing inter-faith harmony and mutual respect for peaceful coexistence.

“The international community cannot turn a blind eye to these hate mongers.”

It was of the view that it was the responsibility of the national governments as well as the international community to prevent such racist and Islampohobic acts.

The country conveyed its concerns to the authorities in Denmark and urged them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Muslims around the world and take steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts.

The Swedish embassy in Pakistan said that the Islamophobic act committed by a far-right extremist was strongly rejected by their government. Such an act does not in any way reflect their opinions, it added.

Last year, Finland and Sweden broke with decades of military non-alignment and applied to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Bids to join NATO must be approved by all 30 members of the alliance.

Turkey and fellow NATO member Hungary are the only members that have yet to ratify the two applications by votes in parliament.

Hungary’s parliament is expected to ratify the two bids next month.

Turkey summoned Denmark’s ambassador on Friday to condemn Copenhagen.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed the envoy had been summoned. He said Copenhagen enjoyed “good relations with Ankara – and this doesn’t change that”.

“Our job is to explain to Turkey the conditions that prevail in Denmark with our open democracy, and make them understand that there is a difference between Denmark as a country – our people as a whole – and individuals who hold a wide range of views,” he said.

Boycott call

Egypt’s Al-Azhar has called for the boycott of Swedish and Dutch products.

Al-Azhar, in a statement issued Wednesday, called on “Muslims to boycott Dutch and Swedish products”.

It also urged “an appropriate response from the governments of these two countries” which it charged were “protecting despicable and barbaric crimes in the name of ‘freedom of expression’”.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned Paludan’s actions as “deeply disrespectful”, while the United States called it “repugnant”.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Monday said the burning was the work of “a provocateur” who “may have deliberately sought to put distance between two close partners of ours – Turkey and Sweden”.