Its internal border controls Sweden will become stricter, the country’s prime minister announced on Tuesday, as the incidents of burning and desecration of copies of the Koran have increased the risk level.
Sweden and Denmark have been in the international spotlight in recent weeks because anti-Islamic demonstrations in which some desecrated the holy book of Islam, offending Muslims all over the world.
These acts of desecration have caused wave of anger and protests and have created tension in diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries which call for immediate measures to prevent such actions.
On their part, Stockholm and Copenhagen say they condemn these acts but cannot stop them because they fall under freedom of expression laws.
On Monday, new incidents of burning copies of the Koran occurred in both countries, which said they were considering ways to legally curb such actions in an attempt to de-escalate the tension.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson said Tuesday at a press conference that the security situation in the country is complicatedmainly due to its late entry into NATOcharacteristically stating that Sweden is facing the most difficult security situation since the Second World War.
He announced that the government will temporarily step up security checks inside the country and at the borders, giving police wider powers to stop and search people. He noted that formal decisions will be made on Thursday.
In particular, citizens of other Schengen countries will be subject to increased security checks when they want to go to Sweden, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömer said at the same press conference.
“Internal border checks allow us to identify travelers arriving (in our country) who may threaten our security,” he added, stressing that Swedish police will be given more means to carry out these checks.
Christerson called on citizens to use freedom of speech responsibly and respectfully. “In a free country like Sweden, you have great freedoms. But with this great degree of freedom comes a great degree of responsibility,” he said, adding “what is legal is not proper. It may be horrible but still legal. We are trying to promote a respect between countries and peoples.”
On Monday, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an emergency meeting to discuss recent developments and strongly condemned the burning of copies of the Koran. The OIS called on its member states to take appropriate measures, either politically or financially, in countries where the Koran is desecrated.
Christerson stressed that the government did not plan to make sweeping changes to free speech laws, but is considering changes to allow police to stop Koran burnings in public placesif they constitute a threat to Sweden’s security.
“We have completely different political systems (from some critics of Sweden), completely different views on human rights, including freedom of speech,” he stressed. “It is not true that Sweden adapts in light of other countries’ demands on the country. This is not true”he characteristically said.
The country does not currently intend to make reforms that would allow the burning of religious texts to be banned. One solution, however, the prime minister noted, would be to pay more attention to security aspects when police consider requests for gatherings.
The Danish government announced similar measures these days.
Source: News Beast
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