New Delhi: Sweden is facing international condemnation after Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Quran on Saturday in front of Turkey's embassy in Stockholm. The act raised Sweden's tensions with Turkey as the Nordic country looks for support for its NATO bid.
Surrounded by police, Swedish-Danish activist Paludan set fire to the Islamic holy book with a lighter after a long speech in which he attacked Islam and immigration in Sweden, as per a report by Al Jazeera. “If you don’t think there should be freedom of expression, you have to live somewhere else,” he reportedly said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the act calling it "deeply disrespectful". "Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today," he tweeted.
According to news agency AFP, the act further damaged relations as Stockholm attempts to convince Turkey to approve Sweden and Finland joining the NATO. Turkey, a NATO member, can block another country from joining the alliance. Both Sweden and Finland had applied to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Turkey expressed displeasure by canceling a visit by Sweden's defence minister and Ankara also summoned Stockholm's ambassador, AFP reported.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the vile attack on our holy book… Permitting this anti-Islam act, which targets Muslims and insults our sacred values, under the guise of freedom of expression is completely unacceptable,” the Turkish foreign ministry stated.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “It’s a racist action, it’s not about freedom of expression,” Al Jazeera reported.
Many other Muslim countries expressed outrage over the incident.
Morocco said it was "astonished" the authorities had allowed it to take place "in front of the Swedish forces of order".
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, condemned the protest.
According to AFP, Jakarta stated that "the act of blasphemy against the holy book has hurt and tarnished religious tolerance", adding that "freedom of expression must be exercised in a responsible manner".
Paludan was previously convicted of racist abuse as he provoked rioting in Sweden last year when he went on a tour of the country and publicly burned copies of the Quran.