Sweden witnesses unrest over alleged Quran burning

Local media said three people were injured in the eastern city of Norrköping on Sunday when police fired warning shots at rioters, reports BBC.

Several vehicles were set on fire.

According to reports, 17 people have been arrested.

Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan, who leads the Stram Kurs, or Hard Line, movement said he had burned Islam's most sacred text and would repeat the action, reports BBC.

Following the recent events in Sweden that included the burning of the Quran by Rasmus Paludan, the leader of a far-right group in the city of Linköping, the Swedish chargé d'affaires was summoned, in the absence of the country’s ambassador, by the director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Western Europe Division III.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry official conveyed the Islamic Republic’s strong protest to the Swedish diplomat against the sacrilegious move by the foregoing person that was done under the pretext of freedom of speech and with the support of the Swedish police, read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran.

The director of Western Europe Division III of the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned this blasphemous move during the holy month of Ramadan and reminded the Swedish government of its responsibility.

The Iranian official also called for immediate and decisive action by the Swedish government to end any desecration of the Holy Quran and give assurances that similar events will not take place in the future.

He described the defiling of the sanctities of more than two billion Muslims of the world and hurting their feelings as the worst form of abusing freedom of speech, saying this regrettable event that happened under the protection of the Swedish police, tarnished Sweden’s image among the world Muslims.

In response, the Swedish chargé d'affaires voiced regret over the incident in the country, saying he will convey Iran’s protest to his country’s officials.