The incident, which took place on June 30, 2023, involved Salwan Momika, a Christian refugee from Iraq, who stomped on the Islamic holy book and set some of its pages on fire in front of the largest mosque in the Swedish capital.
Despite being granted a permit by the police based on free-speech protections, the act has been condemned by the NSCIA as abominable and heinous.
Prof. Salisu Shehu, the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, expressed his concern over the growing Islamophobia and the audacity of those who harbour hatred towards Islam and Muslims. He emphasised that such actions and utterances demonstrate a lack of sensitivity and disrespect towards the feelings and beliefs of nearly two billion Muslims worldwide.
This incident is not the first attack on mosques in Sweden, as similar acts of vandalism occurred in 2015 and December 2022, when a damaged copy of the Qur'an was left chained outside a mosque. It is alarming that such a blasphemous act could occur in a country often hailed for its peaceful nature.
The NSCIA expressed shock at the failure of the supposedly intelligent and civilised Swedish police to intervene and prevent the offensive act. They questioned the insensitivity and potential consequences of allowing such provocation to take place, which could escalate into a religious crisis not only in Sweden but also worldwide.
The NSCIA called for an investigation into the matter, urging the Swedish authorities to make the findings public and ensure that justice is served.
The Council also emphasised that Sweden, along with other European countries that permit or justify the desecration of Islamic religious symbols under the guise of freedom of speech, should be aware that Muslims globally are observant of their hypocrisy and double standards. The NSCIA criticised these countries for falling short of justice, fairness, honour, and decorum, damaging their image as civilised and humane nations.
In light of these events, the NSCIA called on Muslims worldwide to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, despite the provocation. They commended the proactive and strong response from countries like Turkiye and Morocco on this matter.
The NSCIA emphasised that no holy book should be subjected to desecration and disrespect, highlighting the belief that Sweden would never allow its national flag to be burned in such a dishonourable manner, let alone the Bible.