The government remains silent – despite the escalated crisis after the latest Koran burning.
But it is not so strange, believes political scientist Göran Sundström.
– They have received quite serious criticism, he says.
After the latest Koran burning on Thursday, Swedish ambassadors have been summoned to a number of countries in the Middle East and Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei accuses Sweden of having declared war on the Muslim world. Popular protests against Sweden have also been organized.
But despite the escalated crisis, and repeated contact attempts from TT and other Swedish media, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and his ministers remain silent without answering questions.
– There is a lot happening in the government office now and we are working on it, but we cannot tell TT everything that happens, says Hanna Strömberg, Ulf Kristersson’s press secretary.
Could have been more careful
The fact that the government is not speaking out can be due to several reasons, believes Göran Sundström, professor of political science at Stockholm University. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) has said that the government is considering changing the ordinance, several individual ministers have previously criticized Koran burnings and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the Koran campaigns.
The latter, however, has caused both experts and the Sweden Democrats to go to the roof. This may have caused the government to become more cautious, according to Göran Sundström.
– That the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declares that they do not like certain actions can prevent the next person from expressing himself. It can be interpreted as not supporting the principle of free speech. It is quite serious criticism, he says.
Crisis meeting at the chancellery
Last Friday, the Government Office’s group for strategic coordination (GSS) met due to the ongoing Koran crisis. However, the Cabinet Committee did not want to comment on what was said at the meeting.
“Exactly what is said at various internal meetings is an internal matter,” wrote the Cabinet Committee’s press department in an email to TT on Saturday.
GSS consists of state secretaries in relevant ministries. The group is chaired and convened by the Prime Minister’s State Secretary.