Tag: Sweden

  • Unrest after Holy Quran burning in Sweden

    Unrest after Holy Quran burning in Sweden

    Three men have been arrested in Sweden for participating in riots after another incident of the desecration of Holy Quran.

    Turmoil broke out after Iraqi anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Islamic holy book on Sunday.

    BBC reports that the police has detained 10 people for causing disruption in the city of Malmo.

    During the unrest, vehicles were set on fire and about a hundred people congregated in reaction to the desecration of the Quran.

    Momika has a record of desecrating the Quran during anti-Islam protests. According to the BBC, his actions have caused diplomatic outrage across the Middle East.

    Police officers have said that the protesters pelted them with stones while some threw electric scooters at police vehicles in addition to burning of the cars.

    This happened in the largely immigrant-populated area of Rosengard neighbourhood in Malmo.

    The city’s police area commander Petra Stenkula said while speaking to local media, “I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violence like the ones we saw on Sunday afternoon,”

    “It is extremely regrettable to once again see violence and vandalism at Rosengard.”

    Back in June, at the first day of Eid al-Adha, Momika set fire to a copy outside Stockholm’s central mosque

    Initially, Swedish police had given Momika a permit to protest, in conformity with the state’s free-speech laws but then said his case was to be investigated for incitement of hatred.

  • Protests, counter-protests escalate over Quran burning in Sweden and Iraq

    Protests, counter-protests escalate over Quran burning in Sweden and Iraq

    A group of protesters in Iraq set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad after hearing about a planned burning of the Holy Quran in Stockholmon on Thursday.

    The Swedish authorities have approved a demonstration outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, where organisers plan to burn a copy of the Holy Quran and an Iraqi flag.

    Last week, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Azha.

    The incident has caused widespread condemnation in the Islamic world.

    This, along with other recent protests by a far-right activist, has sparked a debate in Sweden about the limits of freedom of speech. Swedish police have now received new requests for demonstrations by individuals who want to burn the Quran, Torah, and Bible. The Islamic world has urged Sweden to enact bans and introduce blasphemy laws.

  • Fans and players hold up the Quran in protest against Holy Book burning incident in Sweden

    Fans and players hold up the Quran in protest against Holy Book burning incident in Sweden

    Fans, officials, and players in Iraqi League football held copies of the Quran in protest at the burning of the Holy Book incident in Sweden.

    During a match between Al-Shorta and Al-Qasim on Friday, officials and players held the Quran, with some kissing the Holy Book to show their love and emotional attachment to the text.

    There were also many spectators at the arena. One group held up a banner that read: “The Quran is our eternal law, and defending it is obligatory for every Muslim.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also condemned the incident of the burning of the Holy Book in front of a mosque in Sweden.

    In a tweet, he said such vile, despicable, and heinous Islamophobic acts brazenly violate international law.

    The PM said that this is an anti-Islam act, and he has no words to condemn this pathetic move.

    He also said that the Quran is a book of love, peace, and wisdom for the entire human race, and the character who is involved in this condemnable act insults the values of humanity.

  • EU, UNAOC and OIC condemn act of burning Quran

    The European Union (EU), The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) has condemned the heinous act of burning the Holy Quran in Sweden on on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

    In a statement, the EU has condemned the act, terming it offensive.

    “It is even more deplorable that such act was carried out on the important Muslim celebration of Eid al Azha,” the statement said.

    The OIC in a statement said that such an act contradicted “international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, moderation, and renunciation of extremism.”

    Miguel Moratinos, UNAOC, official said that “such a ‘vile act’ is disrespectful to Muslims.”

    Salwan Momika, an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque

  • Pakistan condemns burning of Quran in Sweden on Eid-ul-Azha

    Pakistan’s foreign office has condemned the burning of the Holy Quran by a protester in Sweden on Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

    “Such wilful incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence cannot be justified under pretext of freedom of expression and protest”, read the statement issued by the foreign office.

    “Under international law, States are duty bound to prohibit any advocacy of religious hatred, leading to incitement of violence,” it added.

    Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque.

    Turkey has also condemned the desecration, calling it a “heinous act.”

    “It is unacceptable to allow these anti-Islamic actions under the pretext of freedom of expression. To turn a blind eye to such heinous acts is to be complicit in them,” a statement issued by Turkey’s foreign minister read. 

    Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Quran burning was “legal but not appropriate”.

  • Swedish environment activists vandalise Monet painting in protest

    Swedish environment activists vandalise Monet painting in protest

    Environment activists smeared red paint and glued their hands to the protective glass on a Claude Monet painting at Stockholm’s National Museum on Wednesday, June 14.

    The two women, aged 25 and 30, were arrested after the attempted vandalism. The organisation Återställ Våtmarker, meaning “Restore the Wetlands” claimed responsibility for the stunt.

    In a video, the two women can be heard chanting: “The climate situation is urgent” and “our health is threatened”. Spokesperson of Återställ Våtmarker, Helen Wahlgren, explained in an interview with AFP that this was in protest of the Swedish government allegedly not respecting its international climate commitments.

    Wahlgren also pointed out that a climate catastrophe is “also a health crisis” with “millions of people already dying from the climate disaster”.

    Återställ Våtmarker said “gorgeous gardens like those in Monet’s painting will soon be a distant memory”.

    Monet’s “The Artist’s Garden at Giverny” (1900) is currently being examined by the museum’s conservation team to see if it has been damaged.

    The museum said it was “naturally” opposed to actions that risk damaging works of art. The acting Chief Curator, Per Hedstrom, said cultural heritage has great symbolic value, and claimed it was “unacceptable” to attack it regardless of the purpose.

    Climate-Induced Vandalism of Masterpieces:

    Monet is not the first great painter to have his work vandalised by climate change activists. Last year, major paintings by the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer and Gustav Klimt caught the wrath of climate change activists.

    Cans of tomato were splattered over Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. At another Dutch museum, a man glued his head to Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” In Austria, protestors threw red and brown slime – meant to represent blood and oil – at Klimt’s “Death and Life”.

    Never before have so many purported fine art masterpieces been vandalised in such a short amount of time. It raises the question of whether or not the destruction of art is an effective vehicle for protest.

    All of the paintings involved were undamaged, as reported by the museums that house them.

  • ‘Deeply disrespectful act’: Swedish PM condemns desecration of Holy Quran

    Swedish Prime Minister (PM) Ulf Kristersson has condemned the abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Stockholm.

    On Saturday, far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish embassy.

    PM Kristersson reacted to the abhorrent incident, tweeting: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. 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,” he said.

    Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif has also condemned the incident.

    In a tweet, the Premier said: “No words are enough to adequately condemn the abhorrable act of desecration of the Holy Quran by a right-wing extremist in Sweden.”

    Shehbaz emphasised that “the garb of freedom of expression” was used to hurt the religious sentiments of the 1.5 billion Muslims across the world, calling the act “unacceptable”.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also condemned the incident as he highlighted the steps his government took against Islamophobia.

  • Bilawal appeals to media to ignore ‘tamasha in Islamabad’ and focus on floods

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari appealed to the media that the number one priority at the moment should be the flood-affected people across the country.

    “Whatever tamasha that is going on in Islamabad should be kept aside during this national calamity that has hit us. Those who have been affected by floods don’t have food or roofs over their heads anymore. Floods have taken everything from them. So I appeal to media owners, politicians, federal government and the provincial governments that all attention must be given to the people suffering right now,” said Bilawal Bhutto.

    Bilawal visited different areas of Sindh affected by heavy rains and floods.

    PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said that all attention must be given to the flood-affected people across the country.

    “We should all focus on the flood-affected people,” said Zardari.

    ‘I will live among the people in this difficult situation,’ Bilawal postpones official visit to Europe

    Bilawal postponed his official visit to four European countries due to the calamities across Pakistan caused by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and flooding.

    “My countrymen are suffering and I cannot go abroad in these circumstances,” said Bhutto in a statement. “I will live among the people in this difficult situation.”

    Bilawal Bhutto also instructed elected representatives of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to stay among the people in their constituencies.

    According to a statement by the foreign ministry, Bilawal delayed his European visit due to the heavy damages to lives and property caused by the torrential rains in the country.

    The FM was set to depart on a four country-trip including Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in a bid to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with Europe and share its perspective on regional and global issues from August 22-26.

    Bilawal’s visits to these capitals will be rescheduled at mutually agreed later dates in consultation with the host governments, said the ministry.

    At least 400 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 216 people have lost their lives to rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan and 216 people have lost their lives in Sindh.

    Read More: Floods in Balochistan and Sindh kill at least 400 people

    A total of 777 people have died in the country from June 14 to August 21

     

  • Hania Amir’s Swedish doppelganger shocks her fans

    Hania Amir’s Swedish doppelganger shocks her fans

    The discovery of Actor Hania Amir’s ‘twin’ was made by a Twitter user who goes by thincrustgirl. Turning to Twitter on Monday, the netizen shared a photo from a makeup enthusiast’s account with Instagram username ‘fancymaggot.’

    “Is this realhaniahehe from a parallel universe???” the fan captioned her post.

    Hania’s fans were quick to respond to the viral photo, expressing their disbelief at the uncanny resemblance.

    “Hania is wayyyy more pretty,” wrote one fan while another added: “How do I unsee this,” with shocked emoticons.

    Meanwhile, Hania Aamir is busy promoting her upcoming drama Sang-e-Mah. The Momina Duraid Productions project also stars singer Atif Aslam.

  • Environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocks world leaders for being ‘blah, blah, blah’ on climate action

    Environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocks world leaders for being ‘blah, blah, blah’ on climate action

    Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocked and criticised world leaders — including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson — over their promises to address the climate emergency, dismissing them as “blah, blah, blah”.

    While addressing the Youth4Climate summit in Milan, she said, “When I say climate change, what do you think of? I think jobs. Green jobs. Green jobs,” referring to Biden’s speeches on the climate crisis.

    Referring to a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, she said, “We must find a smooth transition towards a low carbon economy. There is no Planet B. There is no Planet Blah. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

    She quoted statements by Boris Johnson: “This is not some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging”, and PM Narendra Modi’s: “Fighting climate change calls for innovation, cooperation and willpower” but said that science did not lie.

    “Build back better. Blah, blah, blah. Green economy. Blah blah blah. Net zero by 2050. Blah, blah, blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. Words that sound great but so far have not led to action. Our hopes and ambitions drown in their empty promises,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1442860615941468161?s=20

    Climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate from Uganda, Thunberg and hundreds of other young people from across the world attended the summit. The event was held two days before dozens of ministers gather in Milan for a meeting before the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow at the end of October, reports CNN.

    Greta is an 18-year-old young environmental activist who became famous in 2018 when she skipped school for a strike against climate change.