Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Condemns Burning of Quran in Sweden, Citing Outrage in the Muslim World

Baku/21.07.23/Turan: The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has officially registered its condemnation of a recent incident involving the burning of the Quran in Sweden. On their official Twitter page, the Ministry expressed strong disapproval of the "despicable act" and urged Swedish authorities to take necessary measures to prevent such abuses based on distrust.

The incident occurred on June 28 in Stockholm, where a 37-year-old migrant from Iraq, Salwan Momika, was reported to have torn pages from the Quran and subsequently set the holy book on fire at a mosque. On July 20, Momika and his associates staged a repeat action, intending to burn the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, after obtaining permission from Swedish police. Although they did not proceed with setting fire to the book on this occasion, they kicked and partially destroyed it, which further sparked outrage in the Muslim world.

According to Reuters, the burning incident has raised concerns about public safety in Sweden, with the country's security services acknowledging the potential consequences of such actions. In the past, the police had rejected several applications for protests that involved burning the Quran, citing security concerns. However, these decisions were overturned by the courts, asserting that such actions are protected under Sweden's constitutionally enshrined laws on freedom of speech.

Despite the protected status of freedom of speech laws, the Swedish government is reportedly considering legislative changes that would grant authorities more power to intervene in cases of public arson if it poses a threat to the country's security. As the issue continues to spark debate, Sweden remains attentive to the delicate balance between safeguarding freedom of expression and preserving public order."