The Swedish prime minister said on Tuesday that a recent run of attacks in the nation desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Quran, posed a “complex security situation.”
“As everyone is aware, we have a complex security situation both within and outside of Sweden.” “We have different narratives that are being spread,” Ulf Kristersson stated at a press conference in Stockholm with Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer.
“It could be to prevent Sweden from applying to NATO or to spread a false image of Sweden,” Kristersson added, vowing actions to safeguard Swedish nationals.
“There are also individuals spreading hateful messages.” “It is critical to prevent dangerous people from entering Sweden,” he emphasised. “We are currently in contact with Swedish intelligence services on a daily basis.” That is how serious we believe the issue is.
Kristersson claimed that tightening border restrictions will aid in identifying those entering the country who would pose a threat to national security. The measure will be decided by the government on Thursday.
Strommer, for one, emphasised the need of preventing “dangerous people from coming to Sweden.”
“In practise, this means that checks on who enters Sweden must be tightened,” he added.
The justice minister also stated that police will be given greater authority to inspect vehicles and conduct body searches within Sweden.
His stated goal is to “strengthen police work and prevent threats to internal security.”
Legal changes to avoid provocations
According to Strommer, the government has no intentions to modify Sweden’s rule on agitation against an ethnic community in order to avoid future Quran burnings.
“The focus will instead be on looking into how the Public Order Act can be adjusted to give both police and the government greater powers to block such demonstrations, particularly when there is a heightened security risk,” he added.
One possible approach, he suggested, may be to deploy emergency powers granted to the government under the Public Order Act to prevent protests.
The alternative would be to revise the legislation, but this would need a complete government investigation that may span more than a year before giving suggestions, according to Strommer.
He stated that in order to respond swiftly to such occurrences, authorities will need to exercise their emergency powers under present legislation.
Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee in Sweden who has carried out similar acts against copies of the holy book in recent weeks, including one in front of the Swedish parliament on Monday, has withdrawn three requests for public gatherings to burn the Quran, according to public broadcaster SVT.
In recent months, there have been several incidents of Quran burning or desecration, as well as efforts by Islam phobic persons or organizations, particularly in northern European and Nordic nations, causing anger in Muslim countries and throughout the world.