CAIRO: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, an Islamic grouping of 57 states, said on Sunday collective measures are needed to prevent acts of desecration to the Quran and international law should be used to stop religious hatred after the holy book was burned in a protest in Sweden.

The statement by the OIC was issued after an extraordinary meeting in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah called to discuss Wednesday’s incident

“We must send constant reminders to the international community regarding the urgent application of international law, which clearly prohibits any advocacy of religious hatred,” OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said.

An Iraqi man desecrated the Holy Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday, the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holidays after permission from the court.

The act angered OIC member Turkey whose backing Sweden needs to gain entry to the NATO military alliance.

Other Muslim nations also reacted strongly, with Morocco recalling its ambassador from Stock Holms and Iran holding back appointment of its diplomat.

The European Union finally issued condemnation on Saturday, calling the act as offensive, disrespectful, and a clear act of provocation.