Sweden shocks Muslims by allowing Quran burning protest on Bakrid; fear grips across country

STOCKHOLM: In a rare case exemplar of liberal practice, the Swedish government allowed protesters to burn the holy Quran ahead of Bakrid. The protest will happen in front of a mosque located in the capital city of Stockholm. The police too gave a yes nod for a small protest which coincides with the date of the holy festival. Albeit giving the permit for such protest, the authorities fear a backlash and repercussions ahead of the country’s touted inclusion into NATO.

The police allowing protesters for the act will turn a real ache not just for the Muslims in the country, but also for a government in far away Ankara. Turkey is the second largest military power inside NATO. The Recep Tayyip Erdogan-led country has from the start opposed the move to include Swedes in NATO. The Ukraine war and the vulnerable borders of Finland and Sweden forced NATO to include the country in the organization, but Turkey turned a rebel dashing Swedish hopes.

According to Sweden, allowing the protest was nothing big but part of the country's long-eschewed freedom. But speaking on real terms, it is nothing but a taunt back at Ankara. On July 11th, in Lithuania, NATO will chair a meeting to discuss Swedish entry into the organization. Turkeys' stance will be the mainspring which will decide the final say in the matter. All eyes are fixated on July 11.