Stockholm, Sweden – In a provocative act that has raised concerns both domestically and internationally, Aman, an individual whose full identity remains undisclosed, tore up and burned a Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday. The event, which was permitted by Swedish police, has the potential to strain Sweden’s bid to join NATO and has ignited anger from Turkey, a key player in the alliance.
Following the incident, Aman was swiftly charged by the police with agitation against an ethnic or national group. The act comes amidst a series of demonstrations in Sweden, where protests against Islam and in support of Kurdish rights have caused offense in Ankara. Turkey’s support is crucial for Sweden’s NATO aspirations, but their demands for extradition of individuals they consider terrorists and accusations of Sweden harboring them have complicated the process.
Expressing strong condemnation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan took to Twitter to denounce the act and criticize Sweden’s tolerance of anti-Islam protests under the guise of freedom of expression. The burning of religious texts, Fidan added, is “disrespectful and hurtful.”
The incident has also caught the attention of the international community, with the U.S. State Department joining the chorus of criticism. In a daily briefing, Vedant Patel, the deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated that while burning religious texts might be legal, it is not necessarily appropriate. Patel called the act “disrespectful and hurtful.”
Despite the controversy, the U.S. State Department continued to urge Turkey and Hungary to promptly ratify Sweden’s NATO accession protocol. The department emphasized that Sweden had fulfilled its commitments under the trilateral memorandum related to the accession process.
Sweden’s desire to join NATO was bolstered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, prompting the nation to seek additional security measures. However, the intricate web of diplomatic tensions, accusations, and differing stances on freedom of expression have created a complex situation for Sweden’s NATO aspirations. The repercussions of the Quran burning incident remain uncertain, as it tests the delicate balance between national sovereignty, religious sensitivities, and the pursuit of collective defense.