ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Swedish foreign minister on Sunday said that his country’s government does not support any acts of Islamophobia but stressed that freedom of expression remains a constitutional right in Sweden, in response to a letter from Iraq and several other Muslim countries criticizing the repeated Quran burning in Stockholm.
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee, set the Islamic holy book alight twice in the past two months, first time outside a mosque in Stockholm, and second time outside the Iraqi embassy. Both times, Momika had received permission from Swedish authorities to carry out what he labeled as a protest, with Sweden saying it was in line with freedom of expression.
Angry protests have taken place across Iraq in reaction to the desecration of the Islamic holy book. Baghdad has expelled Sweden’s ambassador and recalled its charge d’affaires.
Iraq and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries in Sweden said in a letter addressed to Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom that authorizing the desecration of the Quran incites hatred and discrimination which violated the United Nations’ covenant on civil and political rights.
“I note the concern you express in your letter and I hope to assure you that all acts of Islamophobia in any form are strongly rejected by the Swedish government,” Billstrom wrote back in response, according to the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Billstrom expressed his apologies that Sweden’s constitution and freedom of expression and assembly were being exploited to insult religions, emphasizing that Stockholm “strongly rejects” any attempts at creating division among people of different faiths.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Sunday said he has held “close dialogue” with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, discussing measures to strengthen their national security in light of the reaction towards the burning of the Quran in both countries.
“We are currently in the most serious security situation since the Second World War, and as for Sweden, we are aware that states and state-like actors are actively exploiting the situation,” said the Swedish premier in a statement, stressing that Sweden and Denmark defend freedom of expression, but have a strong tradition of respecting religious freedom as well.
Far-right group Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots) has burned the Islamic holy book and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi embassy in Coppenhagen twice in recent weeks.
