Actors supported by Russia are actively involved in black painting Sweden as an anti-Muslim country. Swedish Minister for Civil Defence, Carl Oskar Bohlin, said this during a press conference in Stockholm on 26 July 2023.
“We see how Russian-backed actors are active in reinforcing false claims that Sweden as a state would be behind the desecration of holy scriptures. This is, of course, completely incorrect.” Carl Oskar Bohlin referred to ongoing investigation by the Swedish national security police Säpo.
Multiple individuals, including a provocative Danish-Swedish politician, have set fire or tramped on the Koran multiple times the past months. This happened in front of mosques, as well as the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm.
Freedom of speech
Swedish police often allows these kind of demonstrations. The police refers to the Swedish law on freedom of speech. Others say it is wrong. Law experts are among the critics. They see the burning of the Koran as inciting hatred or as discrimination.
“We have a far-reaching freedom of speech in Sweden, but this should not be confused with the state standing behind different political messages,” Bohlin said. The Swedish government has been taking distance from the Koran burnings. | © 2023 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured image of the Koran by Cezary Piwowarski (Creative Commons)