Recently, there has been a storm in Sweden after several Koran burnings – the events have aroused strong anger and concern. Despite this, Prime Minister Birgitta Ed does not think that the actions should be banned, she says in Nyhetsmorgon.
The Koran burnings began last year and were then carried out by the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan, something that caused a great stir – among other things with the resulting Easter coup. Also in 2023, a series of Koran burnings have been carried out, by Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, with the aim of banning the Koran. The Koran burnings have led to a major diplomatic crisis and to SÄPO announcing that the security situation in Sweden has deteriorated.
The prime minister’s wife Birgitta Ed is one of many who are upset by the Koran burnings. She herself recently became a priest and thinks the actions are terrible.
– I get incredibly upset, sad and provoked, she says.
Even though Birgitta Ed is not a Muslim herself, as a believer she can empathize with the situation and feelings of Muslims, she says.
– I can understand someone who is a Muslim who gets really upset, I understand that, she says.
“Have two thoughts in your head at the same time”
Despite his feelings, Ed does not think that burning holy scriptures should be banned and believes that you must be able to have two thoughts in your head at the same time.
– I think it is important to maintain the legislation we have. We should have ice in our stomachs and try to understand how to deal with the problems, she says.
In Nyhetsmorgon, Birgitta Ed also comments on the criticism she received after a NATO meeting. She was there as a representative of Sweden together with her husband Ulf Kristersson and chose to wear her priest’s collar. She has received criticism from both the right and the left for her choice of clothing, but despite that she has no regrets.
– I’m a priest 24 hours a day, it’s not something you take off and on when you take off your clothes, says Birgitta Ed.