Radical Christian Plans Quran Burning in Sweden Ahead of Eurovision

Reports have surfaced that an Iraqi refugee and a radical Christian are allegedly planning to burn a Quran in Sweden just one day before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest next week.

Swedish citizens Salwan Najem, an Iraqi refugee, and Jade Sandberg, a radical Christian advocating for Islam to be banned in Sweden, have reportedly sought permission to burn a sacred text, as per an article in British newspaper The Daily Mail.

As reported by the newspaper, police in Malmo have confirmed receiving a request to burn the Quran in the city, where Eurovision is set to kick off on 7th May.

Malmo Police District chief Petra Stenkula said the request to burn the Quran was being considered. Burning the Quran is not a violation of the law in Sweden.

Last year Salwan Momika, an Iraqi Christian asylum seeker, publicly burned the Quran on more than one occasion after receiving permission from Swedish authorities amid widespread anger from Muslim communities.

Stenkula said 10 other requests had been lodged by pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups for demonstrations outside the Malmo Arena during Eurovision.

Malmo is a city of more than 350,000 people and has a Muslim population of 50,000.

Eurovision will kick off in Sweden with two semi-finals before the competition’s grand final takes place on 11 May. Israel is among 37 countries taking part in this year’s edition of the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the competition, has resisted calls for Israel to be excluded due to its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced millions more.