The Swedish police have authorized a small demonstration outside a mosque in Stockholm, where the organizers have announced their intention to “tear up and burn the Koran.” This development has the potential to further complicate Sweden’s efforts to join NATO. Recent protests in Sweden, focused on Islam and Kurdish rights, have strained relations with Turkey, whose support Sweden requires for NATO membership.
While Swedish police have previously rejected applications for anti-Koran demonstrations, the country’s courts have overridden those decisions, citing protection of freedom of speech. In the permit issued for Wednesday’s demonstration, the police acknowledged that it could have “foreign policy consequences,” but deemed the security risks and consequences of a Koran burning not significant enough to reject the application. According to the Stockholm police, only two individuals, including organizer Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee advocating for a ban on the Koran, were expected to participate.
Turkey had suspended talks with Sweden on its NATO application after Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right political party Hard Line, burned a Koran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm in January. However, Paludan was not anticipated to be part of the demonstration on Wednesday. The January Koran burning also drew criticism from several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait. The Turkish embassy in Stockholm has not provided an immediate comment on the matter.
Despite these developments, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed the country’s desire to join NATO before or during the upcoming summit in Vilnius next month, although it remains uncertain whether this goal can be achieved by then.
