The extremist Salwan Moomika (37 years old), of Iraqi origin, tore apart a copy of the Quran and set it on fire outside the Stockholm Central Mosque after being granted permission by the Swedish police to organize a protest following a judicial decision.
To be noted, this incident is not the first of its kind in Sweden, where over 600,000 Muslims reside. On January 21st of last year, the leader of the Danish far-right “Stram Kurs” party, Rasmus Paludan, burned a copy of the Quran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm under police protection. This act sparked protests from Arab and Islamic communities, alongside calls for boycotting Swedish products.
Rasmus Paludan, the Danish-Swedish politician and leader of the far-right “Stram Kurs” (Hard Line) party, is known for following in the footsteps of party leaders who hold extremist and rigid views on Islam. They strongly oppose non-Western immigration and the presence of the Islamic religion in Denmark. Paludan has organized numerous political demonstrations in areas where Muslim immigrants reside, considering hostility towards Islam and Muslim immigrants as a winning card to gain votes in elections.
After the event of burning the copy of Quran there was a joke said by the Swedish Prime Minister, Olaf Kristersson, who condemned the burning and stated on his Twitter platform, “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy, but what is legal is not necessarily appropriate, and burning books that hold sanctity for many is an extremely disgraceful act.”
International and Islamic condemnation
The international and Islamic communities have expressed condemnation for the burning of the Quran in Sweden, describing it as a reprehensible act of aggression and a despicable step.
Saudi Arabia: These despicable acts are unacceptable.
Jordan: Religious symbols must be respected.
Turkey: Burning the Quran is a despicable and vile act.
Putin: Burning the Quran is a crime in Russia.
Boycott Swedish products
There is an ongoing debate and anger across online platforms in the Muslim world, countered by attempts to calm tensions by Swedish pages that communicate in Arabic and other languages.
Calls for boycotting Swedish products have escalated through various hashtags, including “Billion Outrage Over Burning the Quran,” “Boycott Swedish Products,” and “Expel the Swedish Ambassador.” These hashtags reflect the widespread sentiment of anger and frustration towards the incident, with individuals expressing their dissatisfaction through social media activism. At the same time, Swedish pages are making efforts to address the situation and promote dialogue in an attempt to ease tensions and foster understanding between communities.
Others have criticized what they perceive as “Western double standards,” stating that “campaigns targeting Islam and its symbols require a reevaluation of the limits of criticizing others and their sanctities.”
A sector of Arab and Muslim commentators accuses the Swedish authorities of “extremism” and “complicity with Islamophobia promoters.” They argue that the incident of burning the Quran reflects a broader issue of intolerance and discrimination against Islam, and they criticize what they see as a failure of the Swedish government to address these concerns effectively. These individuals believe that there should be a more balanced and respectful approach to discussions surrounding religious beliefs and symbols.
