The event, set in response to a Koran burning, has caused an uproar in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks of a “disgraceful decision”.
The possible burning of a Torah in front of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm caused outrage in Israel. “As President of the State of Israel, I condemned the burning of the Koran, sacred to Muslims around the world, and it breaks my heart now that the same fate awaits a Jewish Bible, the eternal book of the Jewish people,” said Israeli President Yitzhak (Isaac) Herzog on Friday.
According to Swedish media reports, Stockholm police have already granted permission to a candidate for a public demonstration in which he intends to burn a Torah and a Bible. The action will take place on Saturday in front of the Israeli embassy in the Swedish capital. The applicant sees the rally as a reaction to the Koran burning in front of Stockholm’s mosque at the end of June. The burning of Islam’s holy scriptures has caused anger and protests among Muslims abroad and in Sweden.
“No exercise of freedom of expression”
“Allowing the defacement of sacred texts is not an exercise in free speech, but blatant incitement and an act of pure hatred,” Herzog said. The whole world must unite and clearly condemn this “heinous act”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on Twitter: “The State of Israel takes this shameful decision very seriously, which damages the holy of holies of the Jewish people.” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen urged Swedish authorities to prevent the fire. (APA)