Violent riots were sparked in the Swedish city of Malmö on this week after an anti-Islamic activist publicly burned a copy of the Quran, requiring dozens of police officers to quell the unrest.
Swedish authorities said they were pelted with rocks by the rioters, who also set dozens of cars and an underground garage on fire. Crowds of predominantly young men in the notorious Rosengård district of Sweden’s third-largest city also burned tires and debris and threw electric scooters, bicycles, and barriers at the police. Several rioters were arrested as a result.
The burning was staged by Salwan Momika, a former Christian Iraqi refugee who has staged several similar protests throughout the country in recent months.
“I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violent expressions like those we saw on Sunday afternoon,” stated Petra Stenkula, a senior police officer.
“Regardless of the reason behind these riots, the car fires, the harassment, violence against police officers… regardless of the reason, I think that all Swedes find this completely unacceptable,” announced Swedish Prime Minister Elf Kristersson.
Sweden has come under intense pressure from Muslim countries to ban public burnings of the Quran, with Turkish President Recep Erdogan even threatening to stall the country’s admission into NATO such acts continue.
Denmark recently caved into similar demands and announced it will impose Islamic blasphemy laws on its citizens.
