ISLAM is a religion that teaches peace, justice and respect for all human beings, regardless of their faith, race or ethnicity. Islam recognizes the diversity of religions and beliefs as a natural and inevitable phenomenon and calls for a peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among them. Islam does not claim to be the only true religion, nor does it seek to impose its beliefs on others by force or coercion. Rather, Islam invites people to the truth with wisdom and good manners, and leaves them free to choose their own path. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, states: “There is no compulsion in religion. The right way has become distinct from error” (2:256). This verse clearly prohibits any form of coercion or compulsion in matters of faith and guarantees the freedom of conscience for all people. The Quran also states: “To you be your religion and to me be mine” (109:6). This verse expresses the principle of religious tolerance and pluralism and acknowledges the right of others to follow their own religion.
There have been a number of incidents in Sweden in recent years where the Quran has been disrespected. These incidents have sparked anger and protests from the Muslim community in Sweden as well as condemnation from other countries. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred in June 2023, when far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm. This led to riots and clashes between police and protesters. In another incident, a man was arrested in December 2022 for tearing up a copy of the Quran in a public square in Malmö. This incident also led to protests and calls for the man to be prosecuted.
The Swedish government has condemned these incidents, but some people have argued that the government has not done enough to protect Muslims from Islamophobia. They have called for stricter laws against hate speech and for more education about Islam in schools. The disrespect of the Quran is a serious issue in Sweden and it is one that needs to be addressed. The government needs to do more to protect Muslims from Islamophobia and to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected in Sweden. The Swedish Government condemned the incidents of Quran desecration and said that they were “deeply disrespectful”. The government also said that it would not tolerate any form of hate speech or discrimination against Muslims. The Muslim community in Sweden was outraged by the incidents of Quran desecration. They called for the perpetrators to be punished and for the government to do more to protect Muslims from Islamophobia.
Several countries, including Turkey, Iraq and Qatar, condemned the incidents of Quran desecration in Sweden. They called on the Swedish Government to take action to prevent such incidents from happening again. An application was made in the court to allow us to burn the inspired book of the religion of Islam. Permission was granted and the day of Eid was chosen for this work because the big gathering of the religion of Islam is held everywhere on Eid. And the place chosen was the mosque because there were many religious people in the mosque. And then the word of Allah was burnt in order that no one has the power to change even the most powerful. A Muslim who tried to stop him was arrested by the police because it is a crime according to the court. Oh Allah, have mercy.
Now there is a need to think and understand that the book which has no power to change the point, which is a book itself has great power, was meant to insult the glory of Allah or His Messenger, no way. The purpose was only to remind the Muslims of their times that you people are weak and cowards. The purpose was to show that you people are scattered people in the greed for money and greed for power, you are a crowd, you are not a “Muslim Umma”. On the Day of Resurrection, to whom Allah has given the power, there will be as much question. He gave us the power to write and speak, we are responsible for him.
Islam is a religion that promotes religious harmony and coexistence among all human beings. Islam respects the diversity of religions and beliefs as a divine plan, and calls for a peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among them. Islam invites people to the truth with wisdom and good manners and leaves them free to choose their own path. Islam encourages dialogue and debate with people of other faiths based on reason and evidence. Islam recognizes the common ground that it shares with other religions that believe in one God. Islam teaches its followers to be kind and courteous to people of other faiths and to cooperate with them in matters of goodness and justice. Islam also has a history of practicing religious harmony and coexistence with other faiths during its golden age of civilization. Therefore, Islam is a religion that can offer a solution for the current challenges of religious intolerance and violence that plague our world today. As a Muslim, I strongly condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran and disrespectfulness of any religion anywhere around the globe.
—The writer is Editor-in-Chief, Inverge Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS), Islamabad
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