As protests continue against Sweden, OIC to meet in Saudi on Quran burning
Member states are set to discuss measures to be taken against attacks on the Muslim holy book.
Supporters of Iraq's Sadrist movement gather outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on June 30, 2023 for a second day of protests against a Koran burning outside a Stockholm mosque that outraged Muslims around the world. The protest came a day after an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, 37, stomped on the Islamic holy book and set several pages alight in front of the capital's largest mosque. Swedish police had granted him a permit in line with free-speech protections, but authorities later said

Supporters of Iraq's Sadrist movement gather outside the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad on June 30, 2023, for a second day of protests against a Quran burning outside a Stockholm mosque that outraged Muslims around the world. - AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff
June 30, 2023

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an extraordinary meeting in Saudi city of Jeddah on Sunday over a Quran-burning demonstration in Sweden, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency reported on Friday.

The executive committee of the 57-member organization of Muslim countries will discuss what measures can be taken over the attack on the holy scripture, Anadolu reported, citing diplomatic sources. The meeting was called by Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the rotating OIC presidency, the report said.

The meeting comes as protests continue in Iraq and Iran against Sweden, where the government tried to contain outrage by expressing regret and rejection of the act while defending freedom of speech.

Swedish police have launched an investigation into the protest, according to Swedish news outlets. On Wednesday a protester of Iraqi descent, Salwan Momika, burned a copy of the holy book outside of a mosque in the Swedish capital Stockholm. The incident, which took place during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, drew strong reactions from the Muslim world. Protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Iraq as Jordan and Morocco recalled their ambassadors to Stockholm.

Momika is being investigated by the Swedish police for two hate crimes and a general fire ban. Iraq has asked for his extradition.

Swedish authorities rejected a series of requests to hold similar protests after another Quran-burning demonstration near the Turkish Embassy in the Swedish capital in January, but a court in Stockholm overruled the police, allowing this week's protest in line with Swedish laws on freedom of assembly. The protests have angered NATO member Turkey, which is dragging its feet on ratifying the Nordic nation’s bid to join the transatlantic alliance.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan condemned the court ruling after Wednesday’s protest.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declined to speculate on the incident’s possible impact on negotiations between his country and Turkey, adding that the protest was “legal, but not appropriate.”

Echoing a similar tone, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday that he wouldn’t comment on whether the protest would impact the NATO talks. "I will say that we do condemn it; we’re deeply concerned by the act,” Miller told reporters. “We also believe that issuing the permit for this demonstration supports freedom of expression and is not an endorsement of the demonstration’s actions,” he added.

Washington has been pressing Ankara to ratify Sweden’s membership before the alliance’s annual summit on July 11-12 in Lithuania. Turkish, Swedish and NATO officials are scheduled to hold a new round of meeting next Thursday as part of ongoing talks aiming to convince Turkey to drop its objections.

So, an Iraqi (or atleast someone of Iraqi descent) burns a copy of the Koran in Sweden. Somehow, it is Sweden's fault? Sweden, one of the most liberal countries in the world, would have held that protester accountable, had it not been his freedom of speech.

Sounds much like how India holds Australia responsible whenever an Indian gets attacked in Australia... even if the perpetrator is also Indian. But, they go really quite when vehicular manslaughter by an Indian against an Australian takes place.

Now the Islamic world is up in arms over a Koran burning in Sweden.

Swedes now need to be careful in overseas travel and Swedish products are being boycotted because of the perceived prejudice in the people and government of Sweden.

Will white privilege save Sweden?

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/06/protests-continue-against-sweden-oi...

Quote:

Baronvonrort wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2023 at 5:24pm:


Sweden didn't hesitate to start a bogus rape charge against Assange and then drop it after their objective to expose Assange to prosecution by the USA was achieved.

The Swedish people are just as guilty as their prosecutors, judges, and politicians for the crimes committed in their name.

Are you talking to me?

Bobby. wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2023 at 5:35pm:


Bobby has cracked it.

Sweden's punishment should be that they are compelled to buy 8 US submarines for $45 billion each.

That will teach them to suppress extremist radicals.