A 27-year-old man in Sweden has been sentenced for the first time in the country's history for desecrating the Koran. The defendant, who was found guilty of inciting ethnic hatred, was handed a conditional prison sentence and a fine. This development has been reported by the BBC.
In September 2020, the defendant publicly desecrated the Koran in Linkoping, a city in central Sweden. The act was captured on video and subsequently shared on social media platforms. It marked the first legal case in Sweden related to Koran desecration. Previously, the country's prosecutor's office had refrained from pursuing charges against such actions, deeming them an exercise of free speech.
In 2023, various public events related to the Koran in Sweden and Denmark caused controversy, impacting Muslim sensibilities and prompting diplomatic actions by several Muslim-majority countries. Following these incidents, the governments of Denmark and Sweden decided to criminalize Koran desecration.
The Chronology of Koran Desecration Incidents:
1. In January, a Koran was desecrated in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. The action was led by Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the far-right and anti-Islam "Hard Line" party in Denmark.
2. In April, the Swedish administrative court, upon request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, annulled the police's decision to allow a demonstration of Koran desecration. The court emphasized the importance of constitutional protections for freedom of assembly and expression.
3. In June, a provocateur desecrated the Koran outside a major mosque in Stockholm.
4. In July, the Swedish police allowed a controversial display of desecrating the Koran and the flag of Iraq outside an Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, leading to hundreds of individuals storming the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and causing damage.
5. To disperse protestors, Iraqi police reportedly used water cannons, and the Iraqi government called for the Swedish ambassador's expulsion and the cessation of diplomatic relations until the perpetrators of the attack were brought to justice.
6. Following the attack in Baghdad, the Koran was desecrated outside the Swedish embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, by similar provocateurs.
7. In early August, a woman, under police protection, desecrated the Koran by a lake near Mälaren in Stockholm, stating that it was necessary to "destroy all religions."
8. Later in August, another desecration occurred under police protection in Stockholm, as the Koran was burned on a makeshift barbecue. The individual involved argued the need to "eradicate all religions."
These incidents have sparked significant debate about freedom of expression, religion, and cultural sensitivity, raising questions about how Western societies should respond to such provocations.
Earlier, Daryo reported that Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, strongly denounced the burning of the Quran in several Northern European countries, calling it an unacceptable provocation that undermines trust between nations and communities. He highlighted Kazakhstan's commitment to fostering dialogue among religious leaders through the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Tokayev urged the UN General Assembly to address these events and stressed that such actions contradict civilized norms.
These incidents led to Iraq expelling the Swedish ambassador and issuing a warning against further Quran burnings, which could sever diplomatic relations. It all began with the burning of the Quran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, sparking subsequent incidents and escalating tensions. International concerns have arisen regarding diplomatic relations and interfaith harmony. OIC member countries plan to convene a foreign ministers' meeting on the matter, and the UN has adopted a resolution condemning acts of violence or insults against sacred texts as violations of international law.
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