Sweden’s provocation defense: The law allows

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström argued that Swedish law legalizes provocations such as the burning of holy books.

Billström responded to journalists’ questions at the entrance to the EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Brussels. Regarding the provocation of burning the Koran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, the AA correspondent asked: “Is this just free speech or did they just allow someone to commit a hate crime?” To the question, “As the Swedish government, we have made it very clear that there is freedom of expression in Sweden and that we do not stand with the people who committed this action. This is something we will take responsibility for. The Swedish government does not support the burning of holy books in any way.

The reporter asked, “If someone had burned the holy book of another religion, would that still be free speech?” Billström said: “Under Swedish law, free speech makes it legal to do so. However, doing so does not mean that we stand by, support or approve of this action,” he said.

SENTENCED IN GERMANY

Germany has sentenced Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the far-right Danish Strict Direction Party, for burning the Koran in front of the Stockholm Embassy in Sweden. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Wagner, at a press conference in Berlin, said: “We condemn the action that took place over the weekend. It was disrespectful and extremely unseemly,” he said.

Stating that they doubted that this action represented the opinion of the majority society in Sweden, Wagner stated that such provocations contributed to divisions and that they should be responded to with greater solidarity and unity.

Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the far-right Danish party Tight Direction, burned the Koran in front of the Stockholm Embassy in Sweden on January 21 in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and the Swedish government’s permission for Paludan caused a huge reaction. (AA)