Sweden’s foreign minister on Monday reiterated that his government does not support the burning of holy scriptures but also claimed freedom of expression “makes it legal from a Swedish point of view.”
“The Swedish government has been very clear that we both have freedom of expression in Sweden, but we also have made it very clear that we do not side with those people who have committed this,” Tobias Billstrom said ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Twitter on Saturday.
“Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today,” he added.
For his part, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Twitter that “Islamophobic provocations are appalling. Sweden has far-reaching freedom of expression, but it does not imply that the Swedish Government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.”
On Saturday, Paludan burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, amid tight police protection that prevented anyone from approaching him while committing the provocative act.
In response to Sweden’s permission, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson’s upcoming visit to Turkey.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Swedish Ambassador to Ankara Staffan Herrstrom, and informed him that Turkey “strongly condemns this provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime, that Sweden’s attitude is unacceptable, that Ankara expects the act not to be allowed, and insults to sacred values cannot be defended under the guise of democratic rights.”
