Unholy act ignites firestorm: Quran burning incident in Sweden stirs global controversy

In response to the inflammatory act of Quran desecration outside Stockholm‘s main mosque, the Swedish government issued a statement on Sunday, expressing its firm condemnation of what it characterized as an “Islamophobic” act.

This move comes in the wake of calls from an international Islamic body, consisting of 57 member states, for measures to counteract such acts of desecration.

Swedish foreign ministry officials stated their understanding of the distress caused to the Muslim community by these Islamophobic acts, perpetrated by individuals at demonstrations. The government officials expressed their strong disapproval of these actions, assuring they do not mirror the Swedish government’s viewpoint.

This controversy ensued after Salwan Momika, an Iraqi citizen residing in Sweden, was permitted by the country’s police to protest outside a Stockholm mosque, where he reportedly desecrated the Quran. This act has incited international outrage, with numerous countries summoning Swedish ambassadors to voice their protests against the incident.

Nevertheless, the Swedish government emphasized its constitutional protection of rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and demonstration. Officials also mentioned an ongoing investigation related to “agitation against an ethnic group.”

Swedish government denounces Quran desecration act outside Stockholm mosque. Photo courtesy of Essam Hussein from Pixabay.

The Swedish government reiterated its stance, asserting that any form of disrespect towards the Quran, or any other holy text, is an offensive provocation. They stated their commitment to fighting expressions of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerances, which they believe have no place in Sweden or Europe.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), comprising 57 Muslim-majority states, convened a meeting at its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the incident.

The OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, urged for the rigorous application of international law to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred.

The OIC also encouraged its member states to adopt unified measures to prevent any future incidents of Quran desecration. This development comes in the midst of ongoing international tension, with Turkey blocking Sweden’s NATO bid and suspending talks with Stockholm after a similar Quran-burning incident near the Turkish embassy in Sweden earlier this year.