Sweden to intensify border controls following desecration incidents

Stockholm, Sweden (AFP):

Sweden’s government has said that it intends to “intensify” border controls due to worsening security situation in the wake of several instances of the desecration of the Holy Quran.

Tensions have flared between Sweden and Muslim countries following several offensive incidents of the public desecration of religious scriptures. The actions were carried out under protection of Swedish authorities which do not recognize the actions as criminal as they are considered to be a form of “free expression”.

“People with very weak ties to Sweden should not be able to come to Sweden to commit crimes,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference, adding that an official decision to step up border controls should be expected by Thursday.

On Monday, two Iraqi migrants — Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem — repeated the act of desecration of the Muslim holy text in front of Sweden’s parliament.

The infamous duo had previously staged the same outside Stockholm’s main mosque and Iraq’s embassy in the Swedish capital, leading to widespread outrage and condemnations.

Last week, Sweden ordered 15 government bodies including the armed forces, several law enforcement agencies and the tax office to strengthen “anti-terrorism” security efforts.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said “the inner border controls enable us to identify incoming travellers that can threaten our security.”

Strommer also noted that new Swedish legislation came into force Tuesday, giving police wider powers to conduct controls within Swedish borders, including vehicle and body searches.

“The purpose is to strengthen police work and prevent threats to domestic security,” Strommer said.

Sweden’s government has ceremonially condemned the desecration, while at the same time stressing the country’s constitutionally protected “freedoms of speech and assembly”.

Kristersson has, however, hinted that the government is evaluating Sweden’s legal system to explore a potential change.

“It would be about widening the process for handling permits for public gatherings so that one can look at a wider security perspective,” the head of government said.

Over the weekend, Denmark also announced it would explore legal means of stopping protests involving the desecration of holy texts in “certain circumstances.”