A group of Muslim youths gathered at the premises of the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday, July 7, to express their strong discontent over a recent incident in Sweden, which they deemed blasphemous, News About Nigeria reports.
The protest commenced just before the Jumma’t prayers and carried on even after the prayers had concluded, as more youths joined in, causing disruptions to vehicular movement.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing messages such as “Qur’an is our ultimate guidance” and chanting solidarity songs, made their voices heard.
By blocking the road, they forced motorists to seek alternative routes to reach their destinations.
Their demands were clear: they wanted world leaders to address the issue at hand and insisted on severe punishment for the Iraqi immigrant responsible for the sacrilegious act in Sweden.
To provide some context, a few days prior to the protest, an Iraqi immigrant set fire to the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden, during the significant Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The perpetrator claimed that his action was a reflection of his sentiments towards the Quran.
This act of disrespect sparked widespread condemnation throughout the Islamic world.
The protest in Abuja can be seen as a direct response to the incident in Sweden, as the Muslim youths expressed their anger and frustration towards the desecration of their sacred scripture.
Their demonstration aimed to draw attention not only to the specific incident in Sweden but also to the broader issue of blasphemy against Islam.
The protesters said the demand for world leaders to speak out reflects their desire for global recognition of the seriousness of the offense committed in Sweden.
The protesters are seeking justice and punishment for the individual responsible, believing that such actions should be met with severe consequences.
