The police give permission to burn the Koran in Malmö during Eurovision: “Let it just pass”

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Several people have applied for permission to burn Qurans in Malmö on Friday. These are people who have been involved in other Koran burnings in Sweden in the past.

The police have delayed the announcement and there has been speculation that the location may be changed to a less central location than Gustav Adolfs torg.

The police have done this several times in the past, but were found guilty in the administrative court.

Municipal police Johannes Dontsios says South Sweden that this time the police have no choice.

– If we receive an application for a specific place, that is the place we have to deal with. It is virtually impossible for us to reject an application for a general assembly or change location, says Dontsios.

Per Engström, who is the commanding officer for the special event that the Eurovision is classified as on a national level, tells TT that the police will be massively on site.

– The police have received criticism when we previously refused permission in various ways. It has been decided in court and we examine each case extremely carefully.

The best the police can hope for is that the public ignores the Koran burnings, somewhat in the same way as the Danes do. Engström urges Malmö residents to avoid Gustav Adolfs torg during the hours the burning is going on, at 15–18 Swedish time.

– The aim is to cause offense and get upset – but we can tell the public to try to keep calm. To just let it pass.

But it’s not that easy. For example, the Malmö newspaper Sydsvenskan has been contacted by Kashif Virk, who is an imam in one of the congregations in town. He feels the positive news as highly inappropriate.

– I have seen for several years how Koran burnings have damaged the country. So many wise voices have said that this should not be allowed. In many cases non-Muslims. Yet politicians do not forbid this. This allows individual individuals to go wild around the country, which creates a security risk for all citizens in Sweden.

The police state that there may be more Koran burnings during the next week.