Two guys tore up and set fire to the Quran outside the Stockholm parliament today.
In a video that went viral online that Metro has opted not to publish, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, who are both of Iraqi heritage, are seen trampling on the book before lighting it on fire.
The largest mosque in Sweden‘s capital city and the Iraqi embassy both hosted comparable protests this summer.
This is the most recent protest demonstration that the police have authorised in recent weeks, angering Muslim nations.
The two protesters were ready to burn the sacred scripture
In his application to the force, Mr. Najem stated, “I want to protest in front of Sweden’s parliament and demand that the Quran be banned.”
The two men were the only protestors, as they had been at previous demonstrations; a small number of counter-protesters had gathered outside the police barrier.
Although multiple applications for anti-Quran rallies were turned down, courts overturned those judgements, claiming they violated the right to free speech.
Due to earlier protests, Sweden’s diplomatic ties with several Middle Eastern countries have already become strained.
Denmark is thinking about outlawing the burning of the Quran or other religious literature due to security and diplomatic reasons after recent far-right actions.
If it is determined that such protests will have “significant negative consequences for the country, not least with regard to security,” the Danish government said on Sunday that it will look for a “legal tool” to enable authorities to interfere.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said today that “we are signalling both in Denmark and abroad that we are working on it will hopefully help de-escalate the problems we are facing.”
We don’t feel compelled to act in this way, but rather because our political analysis shows that it is in everyone’s best interests.
“We shouldn’t just wait for this to blow up,” someone said.
Separately, this month the Swedish government announced that it was also looking into a related option.
Right-wing parties have opposed the plans in both nations, with some arguing that free speech cannot be restricted.
Tobias Billstrom, Sweden’s foreign minister, claimed to have written to each of the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to clarify Sweden’s freedom to assemble and denounce Islamophobic behaviour.