Pope Francis condemns Swedish authorities’ decision to allow Quran burning: ‘Angry and disgusted’
Pope Francis said he is “angry and disgusted” at the burning of the Quran, days after a man tore up and burned a copy of the scripture outside a mosque in Sweden. Iraqi national Salwan Momika was charged with “agitation against an ethnic or national group” after he tore up pages of a copy of the holy book of Islam, wiped them on his shoe and eventually set the book on fire on Wednesday – the first day of Eid – last week. “Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it,” the Pope told the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al Ittihad, in an interview published on Monday. “I feel angry and disgusted at these actions.” “Freedom of speech should never be used as a means to despise others and allowing that is rejected and condemned,” the pontiff said. Mr Momika called his act a move to highlight the importance of freedom of speech in a democracy. “It is in danger if they tell us we can’t do this.” Nearly 200 onlookers in the Swedish capital Stockholm witnessed the act at an anti-Quran demonstration. The protest has risked sparking a fresh diplomatic row with Turkey, which has been holding up Sweden’s bid to join Nato. Some of those present at the site of the demonstration shouted “God is great” in Arabic to protest the burning. One man was detained by police after he attempted to throw a rock. Representatives of the mosque were disappointed by the police decision to grant permission for the latest protest on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, mosque director and imam Mahmoud Khalfi said on Wednesday. “The mosque suggested to the police to at least divert the demonstration to another location, which is possible by law, but they chose not to do so,” Mr Khalfi said in a statement. The Swedish police had cleared the anti-Quran demonstration despite rejecting several such applications recently. The country’s court has overruled those earlier police orders, calling them an infringement on freedom of speech. Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson said the protest was “legal but not appropriate” and said it was up to the police to permit it or not. On Sunday, a group of 57 Islamic countries called for collective measures to prevent acts of desecration of the Quran, and sought an international law to bring an end to religious hatred. Read More Biden will host Sweden's prime minister at the White House as the Nordic nation seeks to join NATO Thousands protest in Iraq for a second day over burning of Quran in Sweden Protesters briefly storm the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad in protest over Quran burning Man tears up and burns Quran in protest approved by Swedish police Ruins of Turkish city of Antakya tell story of a rich past
2023-07-03 18:16
US durable goods orders beat expectations; core capital goods rebound
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose in August as an increase in machinery offset a plunge in
2023-09-27 22:13
UK employers curb hiring at fastest rate in over 3 years: REC
By David Milliken LONDON British employers concerned about the economic outlook reduced the number of workers they hired
2023-09-08 07:12
The 2023/24 Premier League table based on xG
No longer are phrases such as "yeah, but we had more possession", or "we had more shots on-target" used in fierce childish debates over a particular result, whe
2023-09-13 00:30
Did Cardi B cheat on Offset? Rapper slams husband in furious rant after he accused her of cheating
Cardi B and Offset were married since September 2017
2023-06-27 10:49
Supermodels recreate iconic Vogue cover from 1990
An iconic Vogue cover, featuring Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford in 1990, which capture the age of the Nineties supermodel, has been recreated more than 30 years later. The story, which will appear on the UK and US editions with the cover line: “The Greatest of All Time”, will be missing German model Tatjana Patitz, who died earlier this year. The original photograph appeared on the cover of the January 1990 edition of Vogue and has been reimagined for the 2023 September cover. The four models will appear in the forthcoming four-part Apple TV+ docuseries, The Super Models, as they reflect on the beginnings of their modelling careers in the late Eighties and early Nineties. The show will be premiering on 20 September. The four women, now in their fifties, are often considered to be among the first supermodels to become celebrities and known as household names outside of the fashion industry. Speaking to Vogue, Campbell said of her early days of modelling: “There was a sisterhood there, defined by caring and loyalty: when one is down you pick the other one up.” Elsewhere in the interview, Campbell recalled how her life began to change when she became famous, like when photographers captured her outside a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in 2001. “I was made to feel ashamed of my recovery,” she said. “It wasn’t that I was in hiding, but this is something you talk about when you are ready.” Meanwhile, Evangelista opened up about her own experience with Botox, after trying the CoolSculpting procedure that left her face “disfigured”. “I don’t mind and I never did mind ageing. Ageing gets us to where we want to be, and that’s for me a long life,” she said. “[Makeup artist] Kevyn Aucoin was so afraid of wrinkles and he never got them. I want wrinkles – but I Botox my forehead so I am a hypocrite – but I want to grow old.” Much of the feature focuses on what the four models have overcome and survived in their careers, such as “grunge” and the pre-#MeToo era. All four models said they largely avoided sexual exploitation despite working with photographers who have been accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour with models. Crawford explained she would avoid lots of parties, Turlington said it was down to “luck and grace”, while Campbell said she was taught to “speak up” by her family. “You’d get invited to a party on someone’s yacht and I’d think, ‘What do you even wear on a yacht? What fork do you use?’” said Crawford. “So I would just not go and, yes, I probably missed out on some fabulous opportunities but probably avoided some less than fabulous opportunities as well.” Edward Enninful, outgoing editor-in-chief of British Vogue – he will step down from the role in March to become Vogue’s global creative and cultural adviser – styled all four models for the cover shoot. Writing about the decision to put the four models on the September issue cover in his Editor’s Letter, Enninful wrote: “For such a hallowed moment, my esteemed co-conspirator Anna Wintour – editor-in-chief of American Vogue and Condé Nast’s chief content officer – and I decided there was only one thing for it.” “We had to put the legendary quartet simultaneously on the cover of both British and American Vogues.” You can read the full Vogue cover story here. The Super Models will be available to watch on Apple TV+ from 20 September. Read More Fan who went into labour at Pink concert names newborn son after her Husband ‘ruins’ dinner because of his wife’s typo: ‘The worst kind of control freak’ Woman says her life was ‘blown up’ by viral plane rant where she called passenger ‘not real’ Will the gendered separation in clothing ever cease to exist? All the top models and celebs in Victoria Secret’s new Icons campaign Government urged to remove VAT from period pants
2023-08-12 23:06
Eurovision 2023: 'Maybe we'll forget the Ukraine war for two hours'
Eurovision in Liverpool is already a jubilant celebration but the picture in Ukraine is worlds apart.
1970-01-01 08:00
Commonwealth Games in limbo as Australia pulls out as 2026 host
The Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday citing major cost blow-outs, leaving organisers fuming as they scrambled...
2023-07-18 09:46
Who is Gene Deal? Diddy's ex-bodyguard says rapper almost punched Will Smith for getting too close to ex-GF Jennifer Lopez
Years later, Diddy played peacemaker during the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock
2023-10-18 21:36
Oasis' Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs: Me and Liam Gallagher would reject knighthoods
Bonehead is the latest member of Oasis to say they would turn down a knighthood.
1970-01-01 08:00
AmEx names insider Christophe Le Caillec as CFO after Campbell decides to retire
Credit card giant American Express Co said on Tuesday Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Campbell has decided to retire
2023-06-27 20:01
Bobby Wagner still feels at top of his game returning to Seahawks for 12th season
Hanging on a wall of the Seattle Seahawks’ indoor practice facility is a banner listing the names of the players and coaches responsible for bringing the franchise the only Super Bowl title it owns
2023-09-06 02:13
You Might Like...
Kick It Out received 65.1 per cent rise in reports of discrimination last season
A new Titanic expedition is being planned – and the US government wants to stop it
Google antitrust trial: Tech giant denies abusing power to gain monopoly
Snag a LELO Smart Wand 2 for less than $100 on Amazon
Chelsea's Emma Hayes formally named coach of the US women's team but she won't take over until May
Devon Hoover: Slain Michigan doc's family raises funds for $20K reward after $1K offer fails to solve murder
A survivor of Iowa's deadly apartment building collapse sues, saying the owner and city didn't evacuate residents despite 'imminent danger'
Erik ten Hag to serve one-match ban after third booking for Man United
