About a month after the permit for burning the Quran was granted, the Swedish police issued a permit for the burning of the Torah, the holy book of the Jews. According to the Jerusalem Post, a person aged 30 to 40, along with one or two others, is set to burn a copy of the Torah in front of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm on Saturday afternoon, July 15. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, called Sweden's decision 'shameful' in a tweet in Hebrew and condemned it 'strongly'. Netanyahu emphasized that 'sacred texts of all religions must be respected.' Eli Cohen, Israel's Foreign Minister, also stated that he spoke with his ambassador in Sweden and the Swedish Foreign Ministry to prevent this 'shameful event' from happening. He urged Swedish officials to prevent this 'disgusting' occurrence. The Jerusalem Post report noted that this act is reminiscent of the 'painful' periods of Jews in Europe, during which the burning of Jewish sacred texts often marked the beginning of severe persecution, massacres, expulsions, inquisitions, and ultimately the Holocaust. Discussions regarding freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs have weighed heavily on Swedish society in recent weeks. Since Swedish laws allow the burning of sacred texts, the authorities have limited legal power to prevent this act. Last month, the burning of the Quran by an Iraqi refugee in front of a mosque in Stockholm sparked widespread condemnation from leaders of predominantly Muslim countries around the world. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel also condemned the Quran burning at that time.
Permit Issued for 'Torah Burning' in Sweden; Netanyahu: Sacred Texts of All Religions Must Be Respected
Sweden has issued a permit for the burning of the Torah, leading to strong condemnation from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. This incident follows a similar event involving the Quran and raises significant concerns about freedom of expression versus respect for religious beliefs.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Swedish authorities issued a permit for the burning of the Torah, prompting strong condemnation from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu. This follows a previous incident where a Quran was burned, raising debates about freedom of expression versus respect for religious beliefs.
- The Torah burning is scheduled to occur in front of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.
- The event has sparked significant backlash from Jewish communities and Israeli leaders.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Sweden has laws that protect freedom of expression, allowing acts like burning sacred texts, which has led to recent controversies involving both the Quran and the Torah.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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