Status: 08.02.2023 21:07
Activists wanted to burn another copy of the Koran in Stockholm – but Swedish authorities have now banned the gathering. It could have “seriously disrupted national security,” it said.
After an Islamophobic burning of the Koran in Sweden, which delayed the Scandinavian country’s hoped-for entry into NATO, any further action of this kind has been prohibited. A corresponding request was rejected, as announced by the Swedish authorities. The gathering, now banned, could have caused serious disruption to national security, police said.
The planned protest was directed against Sweden’s desire to join NATO. As in an action by right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan in January, a Koran was to be burned in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Danish right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Image: via REUTERS
In response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened that Sweden could not count on his support for his NATO application. Negotiations between Sweden and Turkey on NATO accession have since been suspended.
The intelligence service saw an increased threat of terrorism
According to the AFP news agency, a Swedish organization called Apallarkerna asked for permission to hold the demonstration. According to the public broadcaster SVT, the demonstration should take place on Thursday afternoon.
The Säpo intelligence service had previously warned of an increased risk of terrorism in response to the reactions to the burning of the Holy Scriptures in front of the embassy in January. “The development means that Sweden is more in the focus of violent Islamism worldwide than before,” it said.
Paludan’s burning of the Koran had also sparked anti-Swedish protests in other predominantly Muslim countries. In the past few weeks, other actions have also triggered outrage. Also in Stockholm, activists hung a doll resembling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by its feet. In the Netherlands, a Koran was publicly torn up.
Struggling for voting behavior
Turkey is blocking Sweden’s plan to join the defense alliance with Finland. The government in Ankara is demanding that Stockholm take a harder line on Kurdish activists it regards as terrorists.
Erdogan had considered only voting for Finland, but not for Sweden, to join NATO. As a result, the two Nordic countries renewed their commitments to continue joining together.
All 30 NATO members must agree to accession, 28 have already done so. Only Hungary and Turkey are still missing.