Quran burning in Sweden freedom of expression, not unlawful: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
3 min read
In response to the burning of the Quran in Sweden, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that the incident was offensive and objectionable, however not unlawful. The NATO chief, nonetheless, pushed for a deal on Sweden’s NATO membership regardless of the occasion.
“I understand emotion and depth of the feeling. This is offensive and objectionable but not necessarily illegal in the sovereign legal system. We are also seeing protests and I don’t like them but this is part of freedom of expression,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated.
🚨#BREAKING: NATO chief Stoltenberg calls the burning of the Quran in Sweden “freedom of expression” and “not illegal.” pic.twitter.com/GhopKA9Sen
— Censored Men (@CensoredMen) June 30, 2023
The NATO Chief has additionally urged for a compromise over Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The burning of a Quran exterior a mosque in Sweden was additionally criticised by the United States on Thursday, June 29, but it surely additionally burdened that granting permission for the demonstration was an affirmation of free speech and never an endorsement of the motion.
The Swedish Quran-burning demonstration has been condemned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicating that it might be one other barrier to Sweden’s software for NATO membership.
Erdogan in contrast those that permitted the ‘crime’ to those that perpetrated the ‘crime’ whereas addressing members of his Justice and Development Party. After a decide reversed a prohibition on the Quran burning occasion, Swedish police permitted the protest exterior a mosque in central Stockholm on the grounds of freedom of speech.
On Wednesday, June 28, the primary day of the Muslim Eid al Adha holidays, an ex-Muslim tore and burned a Quran exterior Stockholm’s main mosque, infuriating Turkey, whose help Sweden wants to hitch the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller acknowledged at a day by day press briefing that Washington considers the demonstration generated “an environment of fear” that inadvertently restricts Muslims’ freedom to apply their faith. Miller acknowledged, “I will say that we do condemn it.”
“We believe the demonstration created an environment of fear that will impact the ability of Muslims and members of other religious minority groups to freely exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief in Sweden. 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.
The anti-Quran demonstration was allowed to go forward with authorization from the Swedish police. Police, nonetheless, charged the perpetrator of the burning with agitation in opposition to an ethnic or nationwide group.
After Russia invaded Ukraine final 12 months, Sweden utilized to hitch NATO. However, the process has been slowed down since Turkey, an alliance member, has demanded the extradition of these it believes to be terrorists from Sweden.
Miller declined to touch upon whether or not the protest and its aftermath may have an effect on Turkey-Sweden relations and, consequently, Sweden’s NATO software, however he reaffirmed Washington’s place that the Nordic nation was ready to hitch the alliance.
“It’s time for Sweden to move towards full NATO membership”, he declared. Turkey’s president, Tayyip Erdogan, criticised Sweden for burning a Quran in Stockholm and declared that his nation would by no means bow right down to a coverage of provocation or menace.
