The weekend’s Koran burning outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm has had major repercussions around the world. Not least in Turkey, where several cities have gone out in extensive protests against Sweden and the country’s government has announced that an approval of Sweden’s NATO application is no longer relevant. Now al-Azhar University in Cairo, the highest institution of learning for Sunni Muslims, has also called for a global boycott.
– It is clear that this is not good for Sweden’s relationship with other parts of the world and also many important Muslim countries, says Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).
Thorén: Major difficulties for Swedish companies
When a similar boycott was issued in 2005 against Denmark, after the newspaper Jyllands-Postens published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, Danish dairy groups, among others, lost billions of dollars for several years after the incident. Concerns are now being raised that Swedish companies could be affected in a similar way. According to SVT’s Thomas Thorén, the call means great difficulties for Swedish companies – if it is heeded.
What influence does al-Azhar University have on Sunni Muslims around the world?
– It is the world’s leading university for Islamic studies that many Sunni Muslim countries listen to. If it is heeded by states, it can have a very strong impact.
Hear SVT’s Turkey correspondent explain what is required for the call to have an impact in the video above.