According to a report by Sweden’s national radio network on Friday, Swedish authorities have given their consent for a demonstration to take place outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm that involves the burning of Torahs and Bibles.
According to Sveriges Radio, authorization has been given to the person who requested permission to hold this public gathering.
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) responded to this development by issuing a press release on Friday in which they strongly denounced the Swedish government’s decision.
CNN described EJC president Ariel Muzicant as saying, “Provocative, racist, antisemitic and sickening acts such as these have no place in any civilised society.”
Additionally, Muzicant emphasised that these behaviours, which gravely offend religious and cultural sensibilities, send a strong message of hostility and disrespect to minorities. He continued by saying that these actions, which are justified by erroneous claims about free speech, bring shame upon Sweden and that any democratic administration worthy of the term should put an end to them.
Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, also criticised the Swedish government’s choice. “I categorically oppose Sweden’s approval of the burning of sacred texts. Having previously denounced the burning of the Quran, which is revered by Muslims everywhere, Herzog wrote, “I am heartbroken that the same destiny awaits a Jewish Bible, the timeless book of the Jewish people.
After a man torched a Quran outside a mosque in the Swedish capital in late June, there were tense demonstrations at the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. The decision to allow the rally was made based on the right to free expression, according to Swedish authorities at the time.
The “security risks and consequences associated with burning the Quran” did not meet the criteria to deny the request for a public assembly, according to a police permit acquired by CNN last month. The June demonstration’s authorization stated that Quran burnings raise the possibility of a terrorist attack and may have diplomatic repercussions.
However, it was made clear that there has to be a direct link between the anticipated gathering and the security concerns in order for those concerns to be used as justification for rejecting a public assembly.
