Following the failed attempt of burning the Quran, the Muslims in the Netherlands disturbed free Quran copies.
Dutch Muslim Community Responds to failed attack on the Quran by distributing free copies of the Holy book translated into Dutch and pamphlets explaining Islam to the public.
An event called “Do not Burn, Read” was organized by six mosque leaders in Arnhem, a city in the eastern part of the country, where Edwin Wagensveld, leader of the Islamic group PEGIDA, tried to burn the Quran on January 13th, 2024.
President of the Arnhem Türkiyem Mosque Foundation, which is part of the Dutch Diyanet Foundation, Galip Aydemir said that the purpose of the event was to show people the sanctity of Islam and the Quran.
He also said that he wanted peace and harmony among the people of Arnhem and encouraged them to read the Quran and other Holy texts instead of burning them.
One of those who received a copy of the Quran was Dutch citizen John Maters, who praised the event and condemned Wagensveldand’s actions.
He said that Wagensveldand’s attempt to burn the Quran was a senseless that created hatred between the people. He added that one does not have to be religious to understand that such an act is wrong and disrespectful.
The event took place in Jansplein, the same place where Wagensveld tried to burn the Quran last month. Wagensveld is the leader of the Dutch branch of PEGIDA, a far-right and racist movement against Islam and immigration, which represents indigenous Europeans against the Islamization of the West.
