The protests that took place in Stockholm on Saturday, which involved the burning of Quran by an anti-Islamic extremist, Rasmus Paludan, has sparked international condemnation and increased tensions between Sweden and Turkey. The act of burning the Quran is considered as a disrespectful and inflammatory move, and it’s deeply offended the Muslim community and Turkey as well. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement condemning the Quran burning as a “vile” and “disrespectful” attack on Islam and Muslims, and expressing solidarity with the Muslim community in Sweden. The Swedish government has also condemned the actions and has been criticized for not doing enough to stop the hate speech and the violence that followed.
On Saturday, Turkey canceled a scheduled visit by the Swedish Defense Minister in response to the demonstration, in which the Quran was burned by an anti-Islamic extremist. Turkish officials also criticized the decision to allow Rasmus Paludan, a right-wing Swedish-Danish politician, to hold a protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Quran burning as a “vile” and “disrespectful” attack on Islam and Muslims, and expressing solidarity with the Muslim community in Sweden. The move has led to a diplomatic spat between Turkey and Sweden and heightened tensions between the two countries.
After delivering a lengthy speech attacking Islam and immigration in Sweden, Rasmus Paludan, a right-wing politician, set fire to a copy of the Quran using a lighter. The act of burning the Quran was widely condemned as disrespectful and inflammatory, and drew international condemnation and increased tensions with Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Quran burning as a “vile” and “disrespectful” attack on Islam and Muslims, and expressing solidarity with the Muslim community in Sweden. The Swedish government has also condemned the actions and has been criticized for not doing enough to stop the hate speech and the violence that followed.
Rasmus Paludan, the far-right leader, defended his actions, stating that “If you don’t think there should be freedom of expression, you have to live somewhere else”. He made this statement to the crowd. While freedom of expression is protected by the constitution in Sweden, it does not extend to incitement of violence or hate speech. Paludan’s announcement of a Quran-burning “tour” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last year resulted in riots across Sweden, and his recent Quran burning protest also sparked international condemnation and heightened tensions with Turkey.
Turkey had already summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Ankara on Saturday to condemn the Quran burning and called it a “provocative action” which is clearly a hate crime, in strongest terms, a diplomatic source said. Turkey also urged Sweden to take necessary actions against the perpetrators and invited all countries to take concrete steps against Islamophobia. Turkish officials including Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for Turkey’s president, took to Twitter to condemn the action and called it a hateful crime against humanity. Ruling party spokesman Omer Celik accused the Swedish authorities of protecting hate crimes. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists that attacking the Quran cannot be considered freedom of expression and said he hoped that Swedish authorities would cancel the permit for the protest.
RASMUS PALUDAN
Rasmus Paludan is a Danish-Swedish far-right politician and leader of the Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party in Denmark. He is known for his anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic views and has been involved in several controversial and provocative actions, including burning the Quran. He has also been banned from entering several countries due to his extremist views. His actions and statements have been widely condemned as disrespectful, inflammatory and promoting hate speech.
Rasmus Paludan is a Danish-Swedish far-right politician who is known for his anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic views. He has led several events where the Quran was burned, leading to counter-protests which were marked by violence and burning of cars. Last week, he even burnt an effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Stockholm. In the permit he obtained from the police, it says his protest was held against Islam and what it called Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s attempt to influence freedom of expression in Sweden. Last year in April during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Paludan announced that he was going to go on a “Quran burning tour” and started burning the holy book in places where the predominant population is Muslim. These actions have been widely condemned as disrespectful and inflammatory, and have led to several counter-protests and violence.
INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE
Paludan’s actions have been widely condemned by the Muslim world and international community, with many condemning the act as disrespectful and inflammatory. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) bloc issued a statement condemning the “provocative action” as a “hate crime” that targets Muslims and insults their sacred values, and serves as further example of the alarming level reached by Islamophobia. The OIC has called on Sweden to take necessary actions and punish those behind this hate crime. Many other countries, organizations and individuals have also voiced their condemnation and called for action to be taken against the perpetrators and Islamophobia.
Paludan’s actions have sparked international condemnation, with many countries, organizations, and individuals condemning the act as disrespectful, inflammatory and promoting hate speech. Saudi Arabia highlighted the importance of spreading the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence and rejecting hatred and extremism. The United Arab Emirates said it was against “all practices aimed at destabilizing security and stability in contravention of human and moral values and principles.” The Gulf Cooperation Council also condemned the protest. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said that “Islamophobic provocations are appalling” and while Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression, it does not imply that the Swedish government, or himself, supports the opinions expressed by Paludan. The protest was held under heavy police protection with around 100 people, including a large number of reporters, gathered near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top press aide, Fahrettin Altun, urged Sweden to “immediately act” against the hatred-filled provocations.
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