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Monday, July 01, 2024  
24 Dhul-Hijjah 1445  

Sweden ‘mulls tweaking’ law after desecration of Quran sparks outrage

Minister says incident and others have helped make Sweden ‘target for militant violence’
The desecration of the Quran took place on June 28, 2023, outside the Stockholm Central Mosque. Reuters
The desecration of the Quran took place on June 28, 2023, outside the Stockholm Central Mosque. Reuters

A Swedish minister has said that the incumbent government might be willing to amend a protest law after the desecration of the Holy Quran in Stockholm last month sparked outrage across the Muslim world.

“It is clear that we must analyse the legal situation in the light of the spring events and those judgments,” Sweden’s Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told Aftonbladet paper on Thursday. “The analyses are ongoing and we will come back with any conclusions.”

The news was carried by Euro News. He was speaking about the events following the desecration of the Quran outside the main mosque in the capital city of Stockholm on the first day of Eidul Azha with court permission.

The incident was condemned by several countries and led to protests in Muslim states. Sweden condemned the “Islamophobic” act four days after it occurred.

Pakistan’s Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday that condemned the desecration of the Quran, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding the Swedish government to ‘clear its position at all costs’. “Why did they let it happen, I think this is the question for which the Swedish government at all costs has to clear its position and give an answer,” he told a joint sitting of august House.

On Friday, Pakistan observed the Sanctity of the Holy Quran Day. Religious and political parties held rallies after Friday prayers.

Gunnar told the Swedish newspaper the incident and others like it have helped make Sweden a target for militant violence.

“We have seen arrests in Sweden on suspicion of preparation for a terrorist offence,” he said, “there have been arrests in Germany on suspicion of preparation for a terrorist offence against Sweden in the light of this. We can also see that the burning of the Quran last week has generated threats to our internal security.”

While the authorities had given permission for anti-Islamic protest, police said afterwards they were investigating the stunt as a potential act of “agitation against an ethnic group”.

“We have to ask ourselves whether the current order is good or whether there is reason to reconsider it,” Strommer said.

He added that Sweden had become a “prioritized target” for attacks.

“We can see that the Quran burning last week has generated threats to our internal security,” he said.

The incident has also damaged Sweden’s bid to join NATO, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan saying his country cannot ratify the Scandinavian country’s application before the desecration of the Quran was stopped.

(With input from Reuters)

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