The Swedish judiciary issued a decision to cancel the ban imposed on demonstrations that are expected to witness the burning of the Qur’an, while the Swedish security forces arrested five Islamists suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the grounds of burning the Qur’an.

EDITED BY | TONY WILD

WORLD SECTION

5 APRIL 2023

     The issue of burning the Qur’an in early January in Sweden returned to prominence twice, Tuesday (4 April 2023), with the arrest of five people on suspicion of preparing an Islamic revenge attack and a judicial decision reviving the hypothesis of burning new copies of the Qur’an.
The burning of the Koran by the Swedish-Danish anti-Islam extremist Rasmus Paludan had serious international consequences, sparking a series of official protests in Turkey and the rest of the Muslim world, and threatening Sweden's candidacy to join the European Union.

And Swedish intelligence announced the arrest of five people on Tuesday on suspicion of links to "violent Islamic extremism" in three towns in the center of the country. She explained that the arrests are related to "several investigations" conducted by Swedish intelligence into possible acts of reprisal targeting Sweden for the burning of the Qur'an in Al-Wudan. The intelligence indicated that "suspicions are circulating about preparing a terrorist act in Sweden," pointing out that "the attack was not considered imminent."

"We assume that there are international links, in particular with the terrorist organization (ISIS)," Susanna Trehorning, an official in the Swedish Security Service, told the Swedish news agency TT News. She explained that the five men were arrested in coordinated operations.

These arrests, the first related to this case, coincided with a decision issued by the Swedish judiciary to cancel the ban imposed on demonstrations that are expected to witness the burning of the Qur’an. After allowing the extremist's first demonstration in early January, which was presented as an anti-NATO measure, the Swedish police then decided to ban other similar demonstrations, citing the risk of an attack and repercussions for the country's security.
This issue preoccupies the Swedish government, which refused to issue a law banning the public burning of the Qur'an and other religious symbols, as other European countries did.

This issue preoccupies the Swedish government, which refused to issue a law banning the public burning of the Qur'an and other religious symbols, as other European countries did.

Stockholm found itself caught between Sweden's very liberal law on freedom of assembly, and respect for the feelings of the Muslim world, especially Turkey. Conservative Prime Minister Ulf Christerson said in early January, "Freedom of expression is an essential part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate," condemning "very disrespectful behavior." However, this statement was not enough to calm the anger of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "It is clear that those who caused such an insult in front of our embassy can no longer count on any consideration on our part with regard to their candidacy for NATO membership," he said.

This incident added to complaints by Ankara, which had accused Sweden of being a haven for Kurdish "terrorists" close to the PKK.

The bans issued by the police were challenged before the courts in the Kingdom, as they violated the freedom to demonstrate guaranteed by the constitution. It concerns the intention of a person to demonstrate in front of the embassy of Iraq and a small anti-NATO organization in front of the Turkish embassy.

The Administrative Court of Appeal relied on Tuesday on that the police "do not have sufficient justifications for its decision" to ban these two demonstrations, which are expected to witness the burning of the Qur'an in front of the embassies of Turkey and Iraq. The judge in charge of the case considered that the threats made by the police to ban the burning of the Qur’an were “not tangible enough or related to the demonstrations concerned,” according to a court statement. The police confirmed that she was "right" and told Swedish media that she was considering an appeal.

Kh.S/S.Sh (AFP, DPA, Reuters)

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