A planned burning of copies of the Bible and Torah in Sweden has been canceled at short notice. With the announcement he wanted to condemn those who burn books like the Quran in the Scandinavian country, the 32-year-old Muslim applicant said before a demonstration in Stockholm on Saturday. Copies of the Christian and Jewish scriptures were set on fire during the rally, according to the police report.
However, applicant Ahmed A. told journalists that burning a holy book was “against the Koran” and that he would not do it. “No one should do that.” The Swedish police had given permission for the demonstration in front of the Israeli embassy on Friday. The approval was met with fierce criticism in Israel and among Jewish organizations.
“Freedom of expression has limits”
“I want to show that freedom of expression has limits that must be taken into account,” said Syrian Ahmed A, who lives in Sweden. “I want to show that we must respect each other, we live in the same society. If I burn the Torah , someone else’s Bible, someone else’s Quran, there’s going to be war here. I wanted to show that it’s not right to do that.”
At the end of June, Swedish authorities approved an action by an Iraqi who had fled to Sweden, sparking violent protests in the Muslim world. The 37-year-old stepped on a copy of the Koran several times on the first day of the Islamic festival of sacrifice in Stockholm. He then stuck strips of ham, which Muslims consider unclean, into the book and burned a few pages out of it. Right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan had previously burned a Quran at a demonstration in Stockholm in January.
Swedish law does not prohibit book burning
Swedish police stressed that allowing a demonstration is not formal permission to burn writings. However, Swedish law does not prohibit the burning of such books. The police can ban a demonstration if it threatens safety or gives room for actions or words that incite racial hatred.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
