On Sunday, thousands of people gathered at Medborgarplatsen in Stockholm to protest against the recent Koran burnings. According to the police, between 3,000 and 4,000 people participated in the demonstration.
– After all, we have our Nordic neighbors Norway, Finland and Denmark, which have freedom of speech and bans on Koran burning. But are we saying they don’t have freedom of speech? People don’t care, and I think that’s dangerous because then the whole society is polarized, says Camilla Lif, one of the demonstrators on site.
The Koran burnings in Sweden continue to arouse outraged feelings. On Sunday, several Muslim organizations and other co-demonstrators gathered at Medborgarplatsen to demonstrate against the Koran burnings that have taken place in Sweden in recent times.
The demonstration was held just a stone’s throw from Stockholm’s mosque, where a burning of the Koran was carried out at the end of June. The incident created major reactions worldwide and the Swedish government has been criticized by several Muslim countries. Even the Pope has condemned the incident.
“Why burn in front of the mosque”
Hassan Taki, who was also there to demonstrate on Sunday, believes that those who choose to burn the Koran do so to create problems.
– Those who want to burn the Koran, let them burn it at home or in the forest or somewhere else. Why burn in front of the mosque or in front of Muslims? Where does it mean? That means they want to create problems, he says.
Demonstrator Imran Syed thinks that a law should be introduced that prohibits Koran burning.
– I wanted peace and quiet and thought that the government would solve the problem. But the government doesn’t want to solve the problem, that’s why I’m here. They must get a law that stops the burning of the Koran – that is not freedom of speech, he says.
“Many are talking about a ban”
TV4 News’ reporter Filippa Fernqvist, who was on site at Medborgarplatsen on Sunday, says that the goal of the demonstration for many Muslims was to stand up for their religion and the fact that many feel offended by the burnings.
– Many people talk about bans, and people generally talk about burning books as the opposite of freedom of expression, she says.