As it became known, a 30-year-old man requested to organize the action. He said the event is a response to the burning of the Koran, which took place in June near Stockholm’s largest mosque.
“The burning is a symbolic event in the name of freedom of expression,” said the initiator of the action.
Leading figures from other religions also spoke out against the burning of the Holy Scriptures. The Russian Orthodox Church called the action an attempt by certain forces to destroy interfaith harmony around the world. Pope Francis has said that the burning of holy books is a reckless use of freedom of expression.
The burning of the Koran sparked violent protests in the Muslim world. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation demanded that holy scriptures be protected at the legislative level.
Let’s remember that on June 28, 2023, a migrant from Iraq starred in an action of burning the Koran in downtown Stockholm. On that day, Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha, one of the major religious holidays. Subsequently, the Swedish police received three more requests for July 15 to hold demonstrations in Stockholm and Helsingborg with the burning of religious books – the Torah and the Bible – in front of the Israeli embassy.
