Swedish police once again approve request to burn Torah outside Israel’s embassy

Swedish police have once again approved a request to set alight a Torah book 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 cops 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.

“It is against the Quran to burn and I will not burn. No one should do that,” said Ahmad Alush, 32.