Swedish police have granted authorization for a Quran-burning protest scheduled to take place in Stockholm on Wednesday afternoon, potentially escalating tensions with Turkey. This decision comes at a time when Sweden is seeking Ankara’s support for its bid to join the NATO military alliance in July.
The Quran protest, reportedly involving only two participants, is planned to occur in front of the main mosque in the Swedish capital on the first day of the Muslim holiday Eid-al-Adha. Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that if Sweden did not show respect to Turkey or Muslims, he would not back the country’s NATO bid. Erdoğan’s remarks followed a Quran burning near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm by a far-right politician, which exacerbated tensions between the two nations.
The police acknowledged that the Quran burning “may have foreign policy consequences.” However, due to the protection of freedom of speech, the security risks and potential ramifications associated with the protest did not justify rejecting the application.
This decision comes after Sweden’s courts overruled previous police rulings that prohibited anti-Quran demonstrations, citing the protection of freedom of speech as the basis for their judgments.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg aims to admit Sweden to the alliance by July, coinciding with NATO’s next official summit in Vilnius. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reiterated the country’s goal to join NATO by July but emphasized that the decision lies with Turkey.
The Quran-burning protest’s approval raises concerns about potential repercussions for Sweden’s NATO bid and its relationship with Turkey. The demonstration’s timing during a significant Muslim holiday adds further sensitivity to the situation.
