SRINAGAR: In Stockholm, the approval of a protest this weekend has sparked controversy and concern following an incident where an Iraqi immigrant burned a copy of the holy Quran. The Stockholm police have granted authorization for the protest, which is planned to take place outside the Israeli Embassy.
The protest organiser now intends to burn the Torah and the Bible in response to the Quran-burning incident.
The decision by Stockholm police to allow the protest is in line with Sweden’s longstanding commitment to upholding the right to hold public demonstrations. However, Israeli officials have called on the Swedish government to intervene and prevent the protest from taking place. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen have both expressed condemnation of the burning of the Quran and have voiced their distress over the potential burning of the Jewish Bible.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has also urged Sweden’s figurehead king to intervene, denouncing both the planned event and the recent Quran burning in front of a mosque. The Council of Swedish Jewish Communities has expressed disappointment with the police’s decision, emphasizing the historical significance of burning Jewish books and its association with past tragedies such as pogroms, expulsions, inquisitions, and the Holocaust.
It is important to note that Sweden has recently faced criticism from Muslim countries for allowing the burning of the Quran during small anti-Islam demonstrations. While the police approved the protest, their authorization is specifically for a public meeting and not for endorsing or permitting specific actions.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the potential for religious and cultural sensitivities. It remains to be seen how the Swedish government will respond to the concerns raised by Israeli officials and the Jewish community, as well as the larger debate surrounding the limits of free speech and the protection of religious symbols.
