Follow Us on Google News
Swedish police have granted a permit for a protest outside parliament on Monday in which the organisers plan to desecrate the Holy Quran, according to local media.
The protesters told the media they wanted to see the holy book banned in Sweden.
“I will burn it many times, until you ban it,” organiser Salwan Najem told Expressen newspaper.
Najem had joined Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika at two previous such protests in Stockholm — outside the city’s main mosque and later outside Iraq’s embassy,
The protest was scheduled for 1pm (1100 GMT) on Monday, according to the police permit.
Sweden has seen its diplomatic relations with several Middle Eastern nations strained over previous protests involving the Holy Quran’s desecrations.
Swedish police have previously stressed they only grant permits for people to hold public gatherings and not for the activities conducted during the events.
In late June, Momika, 37, set pages of the Holy Quran alight outside Stockholm’s main mosque.
A month later, he staged a similar protest outside the Iraqi embassy, stomping on the Holy Quran but leaving before burning it.
Both incidents led to widespread outrage and condemnation.