From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Foreign Minister Cohen condemns another Swedish decision to allow Torah burning
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Foreign Minister Eli Cohen decries another decision by Swedish authorities to allow the burning of a Torah in a protest.
“I’m appalled by another threat to burn a Torah in Sweden,” Cohen says in a statement. “Threats to harm holy books and Torahs must stop.”
“Soon I will speak with Sweden’s foreign minister and make clear to him that we expect the Swedish government to prevent these events, which could harm relations between our countries,” Cohen says.
Earlier today, Swedish police once again approved a request to set alight a Torah outside Israel’s embassy in Stockholm.
Swedish officials have come under criticism in recent weeks for repeatedly approving various protest events at which holy books have been defiled — particularly Qurans.
The latter acts have sparked an angry backlash across the Muslim world. Sweden says though it does not approve of the actions, it holds freedom of expression and protest as sacrosanct.
A previous request to burn a Torah and a New Testament outside the embassy earlier this month was approved by police, leading to anger by Israeli officials.
But the activist behind the stunt did not go through with it, telling gathered reporters on the day that it had never been his intention to burn Jewish or Christian holy books, only to protest the recent burning of the Quran.
The Times of Israel Community.