Photo by [Reuters]
According to Associate Professor Emin Poljarević, the Muslim minority groups in various parts of the world, particularly in Europe, face political, racial, and religious tensions. He believes these tensions evoke memories of the suffering, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism endured by Jewish minorities less than a century ago.
The professor’s perspective stems from recent incidents, including the shooting of an Algerian teenager in France and multiple instances of Quran desecration, which were legally permitted in Sweden.
Notably, last week, there was a distressing incident where an Iraqi immigrant and an accomplice were caught on camera engaging in offensive acts towards the Holy Quran. These acts involved kicking, stomping, and setting it on fire before a Mosque. They took place on one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar.
“The situation is highly volatile, and I believe there is a lot of reason for concern. Maybe not immediately, but in the midterm period … Where Muslim lives and minorities are threatened. We can see the religious tensions, the political tensions, and even racial tensions, which are now flaming up in different places … Just a little over 100 years, we’ve seen that the Jewish minorities in Europe have suffered relentlessly. Violence from fascism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism it’s kind of reminiscent of that period, in my view. Hopefully, we will not develop to that level as 100 years ago, but there’s a risk of such development.”
Correct Response to the Discretion
Previously, a far-right extremist committed the same vile act in front of the Turkish embassy, which sparked riots and exacerbated political tension between Turkey and Sweden.
The most alarming aspect of the situation is that in line with their free-speech laws, the Swedish authorities allowed this deliberate provocation to occur, fully aware of the potential risks and consequences. One of these consequences was the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
Although the Swedish authorities initially permitted the act, reports indicate they later pressed charges against the perpetrator for inciting hatred against an ethnic group. This act appears to be motivated by a desire for attention and publicity, which raises the question of whether Muslims should succumb to such religious provocations.
Professor Poljarević, from Uppsala University in Sweden, firmly believes Muslims should not surrender to such provocations. Furthermore, he asserts the media should not provide a platform for acts of Islamophobia. Instead, Muslims should focus on organising, educating, and raising awareness among non-Muslims about the Quran and its message.
“We have a very paradoxical situation where Muslims don’t want this to happen, but at the same time, they are part of the world in which we live. They are also very active on social media and elsewhere. The least we can do with individuals and small collectors is to create awareness about the Quran and its message … But that’s only part of the current defence.”
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Outrage in the Muslim World
In the recent incident, numerous leaders, predominantly from Arab nations, condemned Sweden for allowing the offensive act. Notably, the United States and Pope Francis also denounced the desecration of the Holy Quran, with the Pope expressing his anger and disgust.
Surprisingly, the Swedish Foreign Ministry, deviating from its usual stance, also condemned the act. They acknowledged that the “Islamophobic acts committed by individuals at demonstrations in Sweden can be offensive to Muslims”.
Considering the escalating tensions and the strong condemnation from influential countries, Professor Poljarević emphasised that Sweden cannot afford to face potential actions, be it economic or otherwise, from more powerful nations. When powerful nations condemn such actions and put pressure on Sweden, it is something they intimately feel.
“Sweden is a relatively small North European country and is very sensitive to outside pressure. It’s a very export-dependent country. So, when Muslim countries are threatening to take action against them, it is something that Sweden feels internally. It feels the pressure.”
