The burning of the Quran in Sweden has sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world.

 Several Muslim-majority countries have denounced the protest-related burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden.

On Wednesday, Salwan Momika, an Iraqi resident in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Muslim book in front of Stockholm's central mosque.

Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt were among the Middle Eastern countries who vehemently condemned the burning. Turkey, a Nato member with veto power over Sweden's accession, labeled it a "despicable act." Turkey, which was similarly outraged by a Quran-burning protest earlier this year, said it was "unacceptable" to let such "anti-Islamic actions" to occur "under the guise of freedom of expression."

Muslims regard the Quran as God's sacred word and consider any intentional damage or disrespect to it to be profoundly insulting.

On Wednesday, Muslims around the world observed the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.

In compliance with free-speech rights, Swedish police granted Mr Momika a permit for the protest. However, authorities later stated that the incident was being probed for incitement of hatred.

Other countries were also outraged by the protest.

Morocco has summoned Sweden's charge d'affaires in Rabat and recalled its ambassador to Stockholm.

The incident was described by Iraq as "a reflection of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression."

Iran mirrored Iraq's criticism, calling the act of burning the Quran "provocative" and "unacceptable," while Egypt called it a "shameful" act, especially as Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha.

Saudi Arabia, which is hosting over 1.8 million pilgrims on the annual Hajj trip this week, stated that "these hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification."

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that burning the Quran was "legal but inappropriate." In recent months, plans to burn copies of the Quran have triggered riots in Sweden in recent months.

Similar protest petitions were previously refused by police, but judges concluded that they should be allowed on grounds of free expression.