Swedish PM Condemns Quran Burning In Stockholm

Stockholm:

Sweden’s prime minister has condemned as “deeply disrespectful” the weekend burning of a Quran in Stockholm, which has raised tensions with Turkey because the Nordic nation courts Ankara over its NATO bid.

Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fireplace to a duplicate of the Muslim holy e-book on Saturday in entrance of Turkey’s embassy within the Swedish capital.

Freedom of expression is a basic a part of democracy. However what’s authorized just isn’t essentially applicable. Burning books which might be holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I need to specific my sympathy for all Muslims who’re offended by what has occurred in Stockholm right now.

— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) January 21, 2023

Livid that Paludan had been permitted by Swedish police to hold out the protest, Ankara cancelled a go to by Sweden’s defence minister and summoned Stockholm’s ambassador.

Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted: “Freedom of expression is a basic a part of democracy. However what’s authorized just isn’t essentially applicable. Burning books which might be holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.”

“I need to specific my sympathy for all Muslims who’re offended by what has occurred in Stockholm right now.”

Paludan’s demonstration has additional broken relations as Stockholm tries to persuade NATO member Turkey to approve Sweden and Finland becoming a member of the army alliance.

Sweden’s bid has been stalled amid Ankara’s calls for that Stockholm hand over Kurdish activists and forestall rallies attacking Turkey’s management.

Many Muslim international locations mentioned they had been outraged by the burning of the Quran on Saturday.

Morocco mentioned it was “astonished” the authorities had allowed it to happen “in entrance of the Swedish forces of order”.

Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates additionally condemned it, as did the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Jakarta mentioned “the act of blasphemy in opposition to the holy e-book has harm and tarnished non secular tolerance”, including that “freedom of expression should be exercised in a accountable method”.

Dozens of protesters gathered late Saturday in entrance of the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, the place they burned a Swedish flag and known as on Turkey to sever diplomatic ties with Stockholm.

Paludan, a Swedish-Danish activist who has already been convicted for racist abuse, provoked rioting in Sweden final yr when he went on a tour of the nation and publicly burned copies of the Quran.

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