Sweden: Free speech advocate and ex-Muslim apply for permit to burn Qur’an day before Eurovision starts in Malmö

“This will make it an active target,” whines Anthony Glees, with the subtext that the defenders of the freedom of expression should stand down, and not dare to criticize, much less burn, the Qur’an. The idea that Swedish authorities should protect Sandberg and Najem, and stand up for the freedom of expression instead of bowing to violent intimidation, isn’t even on the table.

Meanwhile, note the Daily Mail, the worst paper in the Western world, putting its thumb on the scale and trying to manipulate how you will regard this news item. Jade Sandberg, it tells us, is a “far-right Christian extremist.” What does the term “far-right,” which the establishment media loves to use, actually mean? Nothing. The Mail uses it here to make you think Sandberg is a goosestepping Nazi, and that you should oppose him. It is used of anyone whom the media hates, regardless of their views. Note also that the Daily Mail, as evil as ever, shows no curiosity whatsoever about exactly why Sandberg and Najem want to burn the Qur’an in the first place. The Mail wants you t think it’s all about “bigotry.” Freedom of expression? Pah! That’s a thing of the past.

“Far-right extremist and former Muslim make bid to burn the Koran in Sweden ahead of Eurovision,” by Abul Taher, Daily Mail, April 28, 2024:

A far-right extremist and an ex-Muslim atheist are planning to publicly burn a copy of the Koran in the city hosting the Eurovision Song Contest a day before the event starts, the Mail can reveal.

Swedish police have received an application to burn the Muslim holy book at the centre of Malmo before the glare of the world’s media.

Jade Sandberg, 48, a Far-Right Christian extremist who campaigns to ban Islam from Sweden, and Salwan Najem, 48, an Iraqi refugee who has become a Swedish national, have applied for permission to conduct the burning.

There have been fears this year’s Eurovision will be a prominent target for Islamic extremists because of the inclusion of Israeli contestant Eden Golan.

Earlier this month, the Mail on Sunday revealed how two Israeli undercover reporters posing as British tourists inside a mosque in Malmo were warned by security guards not to attend the contest.

Petra Stenkula, the head of Malmo Police District and in charge of Eurovision security, said her force was considering the application which was likely to be granted as Koran-burning itself does not constitute an offence in Swedish law.

Sandberg and Najem – who have both publicly burned the Koran before in the capital Stockholm – are likely to anger Malmo’s 50,000-strong Muslim community, as well as followers of the faith across the world.

Last night, terrorism experts warned that the desecration will raise the likelihood of terrorist attacks during the seven-day-long Eurovision contest.

Anthony Glees, professor of terrorism studies at Buckingham University, said: ‘Already the Eurovision has become a passive target of the awful war in the Middle East.

‘This will make it an active target. Publicly burning the Koran will pour petrol over a fraught situation, and it could inspire those thinking of launching an attack into doing something.’…