STOCKHOLM: Another incident of desecration of the Holy Quran occurred in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, as two men burned the Holy Quran in front of the Royal Palace amid a heavy police presence on Wednesday.
This marked the second time in a matter of weeks that Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee, and his accomplice Salwan Najem, aged 48, had desecrated the holy Quran. Reports from Al Jazeera detailed that the pair had previously undertaken a similar act on July 31st when they defiled the Holy Quran outside the Swedish parliament building. Shockingly, this act was deemed permissible under Sweden’s freedom of speech laws.
The scene of this latest desecration was Mynttorget, a central square surrounded by government buildings and the grand palace itself. The two individuals, Momika and Najem, engaged in a theatrical performance of desecration, using a megaphone to provoke counter-protesters.
Local reports described a confrontation between the perpetrators and a group of Swedish activists who attempted to thwart the sacrilegious act. Astonishingly, the police arrested one of these activists, leading to accusations that the law was shielding the attackers instead of protecting those who sought to prevent the offense.
Repeated Incidents of Holy Quran Desecration
This was not the first time Momika and Najem had committed such a heinous act. Just weeks prior, they staged a similar protest outside Iraq’s embassy in Stockholm, drawing strong reactions across the Muslim world. Countries like Pakistan took a stand against such acts at international forums, emphasizing the importance of interfaith harmony.
In the wake of the latest incident, Pakistan’s former premier, Shehbaz Sharif, shared his dismay on social media, highlighting the recurrent nature of these acts and the deeper, sinister intentions that lay beneath. He criticized the lack of strict action from the Swedish government, calling for more than just regrets and condemnations. Indeed, the freedom of speech versus respect for religious beliefs debate had reached a critical juncture.
Calls to Ban Acts of Religious Hater
Internationally, there were moves to address such incidents. The United Nations Human Rights Council, led by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, adopted a resolution calling for the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred. Moreover, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution countering hate speech and condemning attacks on religious symbols, holy books, and places of worship.
In Sweden, there were conflicting sentiments regarding a potential change in laws. While there were discussions about legally limiting such acts to reduce tensions with Muslim countries, there was also a recognition of the constitutionally protected freedom of speech. The government, though ruling out sweeping changes, considered measures to prevent the burning of holy books in public if national security was threatened.
