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 celebration ‘Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’ burn the illustration of Swedish flag throughout a rally to denounce burning of Islam’s holy e-book ‘Quran’, in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 7, 2023. A senior Swedish official stated 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 stated 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, stated there are indicators of “a heightened menace” to the nation and to Swedish pursuits overseas, including the safety state of affairs has worsened.
In an announcement, Landerholm stated that “representatives of terrorist teams have known as for assaults in opposition to Sweden. States and different actors have helped amplify such messages.” He stated Sweden has gone from being thought-about a “reliable” goal to being a “precedence” goal. The assertion didn’t establish these concerned.
Landerholm stated 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 quite a lot 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 stated,
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 just lately in neighboring Denmark — has sparked indignant demonstrations in Muslim nations.
Sweden doesn’t have a legislation particularly prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or different spiritual texts. Like many Western nations, it doesn’t have any blasphemy legal guidelines; Sweden’s have been deserted within the Nineteen Seventies.
The suitable to carry public demonstration s is protected by the Swedish Structure. Police typically give permission primarily based on whether or not they imagine 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 spiritual books,
Final month, the Scandinavian nation’s home safety service SAPO stated the general safety state of affairs has deteriorated and stated the chance of terrorism in Sweden stays at an elevated stage.