STOCKHOLM: Swedish police arrested two individuals and detained approximately ten others as a violent riot broke out during a protest involving the burning of the Holy Qur’an. The demonstration, organized by Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, has been a source of outrage across the Muslim world due to its public desecration of the Muslim holy book.
The protest took place in a square in the southern city of Malmo with an estimated 200 people in attendance, according to public broadcaster SVT.
Tensions escalated as the organizer, Salwan Momika, burned a copy of the holy book during the protest. “Some onlookers have shown upset feelings, after the organizer burned the holy writings,” stated the police in a release. The mood turned volatile, leading to a “violent riot” around 1:45 p.m. (1145 GMT).
After Momika departed, a group of people remained at the scene. The police detained about ten individuals, while two others were arrested on suspicion of involvement in violent rioting.
Swedish Govt Denounces Desecrations
Local media reports indicated that some onlookers threw rocks at Momika. Videos from the scene depicted individuals attempting to breach the police cordon but being restrained by law enforcement officers. In one video, a man could be seen trying to block the police car transporting Momika from leaving the location.
Through a series of demonstrations, Momika has ignited anger aimed at Sweden and has prompted diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations. The Swedish government has denounced the desecration of the Holy Qur’an while emphasizing the country’s constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and assembly.
In July, Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on two occasions, leading to fires within the compound during the second incident. Swedish envoys were summoned in numerous Middle Eastern countries as a result.
In late August, neighboring Denmark, which had also experienced a series of public desecrations of the Muslim holy book, announced plans to prohibit the burning of the Holy Qur’an. Sweden has pledged to explore legal avenues to prevent protests involving text burning under specific circumstances.
