A senior Swedish official says Swedes overseas and companies linked to Sweden “ought to observe elevated vigilance and warning,” following latest Quran burnings within the nation and protests within the Muslim world
FILE – Supporters of a radical Islamist get together ‘Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’ burn the illustration of Swedish flag throughout a rally to denounce burning of Islam’s holy ebook ‘Quran’, in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 7, 2023. A senior Swedish official mentioned Monday Aug. 14, 2023 Swedes overseas and companies linked to Sweden“ought to observe elevated vigilance and warning,” following latest Quran burnings within the nation and protests within the Muslim world. (AP Photograph/Fareed Khan, File)
The Related Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A senior Swedish official mentioned Monday Swedes overseas and companies linked to Sweden“ought to observe elevated vigilance and warning,” following latest Quran burnings within the nation and protests within the Muslim world.
Henrik Landerholm, Sweden’s Nationwide Safety Adviser, mentioned there are indicators of “a heightened risk” to the nation and to Swedish pursuits overseas, including the safety scenario has worsened.
In a press release, Landerholm mentioned that “representatives of terrorist teams have referred to as for assaults in opposition to Sweden. States and different actors have helped amplify such messages.” He mentioned extremists who beforehand thought-about Sweden a “respectable goal” now take into account it a “precedence.” The assertion didn’t determine these concerned.
Landerholm mentioned there additionally have been ”indications” that teams are planning different acts in opposition to Swedish pursuits overseas, and cited the storming of Sweden’s Embassy in Baghdad final month and an tried assault on the diplomatic mission in Beirut final week.
The Swedish authorities and related authorities ”are monitoring developments, taking a wide range of measures and dealing carefully with worldwide companions to guard Swedes and Swedish pursuits overseas and to counteract the hate messages being unfold about Sweden,” he mentioned,
This month, Sweden stepped up border controls and identification checks at crossing factors.
A latest string of public Quran desecrations by a handful of anti-Islam activists in Sweden — and extra lately in neighboring Denmark — has sparked indignant demonstrations in Muslim nations.
Sweden doesn’t have a regulation particularly prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or different non secular texts. Like many Western nations, it doesn’t have any blasphemy legal guidelines; Sweden’s have been deserted within the Nineteen Seventies.
The appropriate to carry public demonstration s is protected by the Swedish Structure. Police usually give permission primarily based on whether or not they consider a public gathering may be held with out main disruptions or dangers to public security.
Swedish officers repeatedly have condemned the desecrations and have additionally debunked claims that the federal government in Sweden grants permission for individuals to burn Islam’s sacred textual content or different non secular books,
Final month, the Scandinavian nation’s home safety service SAPO mentioned the general safety scenario has deteriorated and mentioned the chance of terrorism in Sweden stays at an elevated stage.
