In a recent ruling by the Swedish Court of Appeal, the ban on burning the Koran at two previous demonstrations was found to be illegal. As a result, Swedish police have approved for the first time a planned demonstration in which the burning of the Koran will take place. The event is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, in front of Stockholm’s Grand Mosque.
Protest demonstration allowed in front of mosque in Stockholm
Swedish police have given their approval for a protest rally that will take place in front of a mosque in Stockholm. The rally is scheduled for Wednesday, coinciding with the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, and will be held in front of the Swedish capital’s main mosque.
Possible increase in tensions with Turkey due to the action of burning the Koran in protest
The planned burning of the Koran during the demonstration could lead to additional tensions between Sweden and Turkey. So far, Turkey has hindered Sweden’s accession to NATO. According to the written version of the police decision, the security risks associated with the burning of the Quran are not sufficient to justify the rejection of the request for approval under current laws. This information was obtained by the AFP news agency.
Organizer seeks to break and burn Quran during demonstration
The organizer of the rally, Salwan Momika, said in his application for approval that he intends to “break and burn the Quran.” An AFP correspondent noted that several police cars were already parked near the mosque in the morning, in anticipation of the event.
The police approval is based on a previous decision by the Swedish appeals court, issued two weeks ago. At the time, the court found illegal police bans on two demonstrations that included the burning of the Koran in Stockholm in February. The police justified these bans by citing risks to public safety.
Past events have generated tensions between Sweden and Turkey
In January, far-right protesters burned a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, provoking strong reactions in the Islamic world. This act led to a hardening of Turkey’s stance on Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Obstacles to Sweden’s accession to NATO
So far, both Turkey and Hungary have opposed Sweden’s accession to NATO. Ankara justifies its blockade by mainly arguing that Sweden is a haven for “terrorists,” referring mainly to members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Similarly, Hungary has not yet accepted Sweden’s accession to NATO. During the upcoming NATO summit, to be held on July 11-12 in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Sweden hopes to make progress on its path to full NATO membership.
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