Syriac Union Party denies any connection with Salwan Momika who burned Holy Quran in Sweden following erroneous Orient TV report

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA / STOCKHOLM — On Friday, the Syriac Union Party (Gabo Huyodo Suryoyo, SUP) issued a statement to calm the wave of anger that swept Iraq and Islamic countries following the recent incident of burning the Holy Quran in Sweden.

In its statement, the SUP said that Orient TV published on its social media a report on the 29 June about the burning the Holy Quran in Sweden by Iraqi citizen Salwan Momika.

The report claims that Momika is linked with the “Syriac Democratic Union Party” with symbols and pictures representing the SUP included in the report.

“In this regard, we in the Syriac Union Party deny any relation or affiliation by Salwan Momika to our party in Syria,” read the statement. “We clarify that the Syriac Democratic Union Party, which was founded by Momika in Iraq, is not linked with the Syriac Union Party in Syria.”

“The Orient TV report aims to tarnish the reputation and struggle of our party,” the statement continued. “We demand an apology and amending the report, because our values and principles refuse to offend any religion, sect, or nationality by words or actions.”

The statement added that the SUP seeks to organize the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people in the pursuit of their rights and ensure peaceful coexistence in the areas they inhabit.

The SUP also works towards achieving a pluralistic, democratic society in Syria, where people of all religions and ethnicities are equal.

Several countries, such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and even some Churches and institutions of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and abroad, have condemned burning the Holy Quran, considering it an attempt to sow discord in society.