Sweden’s Justice Minister, Gunnar Strommer, has stated that the government is examining the possibility of making the desecration of religious books, including the Holy Quran, illegal.
This consideration comes after a recent incident where an individual, who migrated from Iraq to Sweden, burned pages of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on Eid ul Adha, leading to widespread outrage and condemnation.
The Swedish Security Services have claimed that such actions have negatively impacted the country’s security. The police have rejected applications to hold protests and burn the Holy Quran due to security concerns, but Swedish courts have overturned these decisions, citing the country’s extensive freedom of speech laws.
However, the government is now reviewing the situation and contemplating whether the legislation should be revised. Strommer mentioned that Sweden has become a “prioritized target” for attacks, and the Quran burning incident has generated threats to the country’s internal security. Additionally, these burnings have harmed Sweden’s efforts to join NATO, as Turkey’s President, Tayyip Erdogan, has stated that Sweden’s application cannot be ratified until such incidents are halted.
