Sweden's Justice Minister considers amending protest laws following the public burning of a Quran in Stockholm, which led to anger across multiple Muslim-majority countries, Euronews reports.
Gunnar Strömmer expressed concern that such incidents have made Sweden a target for jihadist violence, citing recent arrests in Sweden and Germany related to suspected terrorist offenses. The burning of the Quran generated threats to Sweden's internal security, prompting the government to analyze the legal situation and potentially make changes based on their findings.
The incident occurred in June when an Iraqi resident of Sweden tore and burned a copy of the holy book outside Stockholm's largest mosque during Eid al-Adha. The international response was swift and furious, with Morocco recalling its ambassador and Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq unanimously condemning the act. In Baghdad, protesters gathered at the Swedish embassy, and the Swedish authorities are investigating the incident as a potential act of agitation against an ethnic group, despite granting permission for the protest.
The diplomatic fallout from the incident is significant, particularly with Turkey, which, along with Hungary, has been blocking Sweden's NATO accession due to concerns about terrorism. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, stated that the incident reflects a larger pattern and raises strategic and security concerns.
However, Fidan also mentioned that Turkey would approve Sweden's membership once the Swedish government addresses the situation. The incident has prompted Sweden to reevaluate its protest laws and address the potential impact on its security and international relations.
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