Amid rising Muslim anger over a series of Quran desecrations, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday he was “extremely worried” about the consequences if more demonstrations go ahead.
Protests in Sweden and Denmark during which Qurans have been damaged have offended many Muslim countries including Turkey, whose backing Sweden needs to join Nato. Stockholm applied to join the organisation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Further requests have been filed with police for permission to hold protests in which the desecration of the Quran is planned, Mr Kristersson told Swedish news agency TT.
“If they are granted, we are going to face some days where there is a clear risk of something serious happening. I am extremely worried about what it could lead to,” he said.
Sweden's embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set ablaze on July 20 by protesters angered by a planned Quran burning.
Mr Kristersson said the decision to grant permission for the demonstrations was up to the police.
Sweden's security service, Sapo, has kept its assessment of the threat level at 3 on a scale of 5, signifying an “elevated threat” during the crisis, but its head said there had been a strong reaction to recent events.
Denmark and Sweden have said they deplore the burning of the Quran but cannot prevent it under rules protecting free speech.
Protests in region against desecration of Quran in Sweden – in pictures
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Demonstrators gather outside the Swedish embassy in Tehran to protest against an insult to the Quran in Stockholm. Reuters -
A demonstrator holds up the Quran and a portrait of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a protest against Sweden in front of the Swedish embassy in Tehran. AP -
An egg is thrown by demonstrator at the Swedish embassy in Tehran during a protest against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. AP -
In Tehran, Iranian students gather during a demonstration denouncing the burning of the Quran in Sweden. AFP -
An egg is thrown by demonstrator at the Swedish embassy in Tehran during a protest against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. AP -
Iranian students outside the Swedish embassy in Tehran denounce the burning of the Quran in Sweden. AFP -
Protesters carrying Iraqi flags and images of Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada Al Sadr gather in Baghdad's Tahrir Square to protest against the burning of a Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. AP -
Protesters chant slogans against Sweden in front of the embassy in Tehran, Iran. The Farsi placard on the left reads: "Our red lines are the supreme leader and the Quran". AP -
A Lebanese man takes part in a demonstration in Beirut called by Hezbollah to condemn the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. Reuters -
People march in Beirut after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called for protests outside mosques following Friday prayers. EPA -
The scene in Beirut as thousands of people took to the streets in Muslim-majority countries to protest. EPA -
A woman holds the Quran in Kufa, Iraq, in protest after an activist desecrated a copy of the holy book for a second time in Sweden. AFP -
A demonstrator holds up a portrait of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, in Kufa. AFP -
Shiite clerics attend a protest in Baghdad, after Iraq called for an Islamic summit to discuss the desecration of the Quran. EPA -
Protesters burn posters of the Swedish flag and rainbow Pride flags in Sadr City, Baghdad. AFP -
Iranian worshippers hold up the Quran in Tehran. The country's goverment condemned the desecration in Sweden. AP -
Demonstrators in the Iranian capital Tehran chanted: 'Down with the United States, Britain, Israel and Sweden'. Reuters -
Demonstrators in Tehran march with signs denouncing the US and Israel as they condemn the burning of the Quran. AFP
Sweden has accused other countries – such as Russia – of manipulating the crisis to damage its interests and its bid to join Nato.
“In some countries there is a perception that the Swedish state is behind or condone this. We don't,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters on Thursday.
“These are acts committed by individuals, but they do it within the framework of freedom of speech laws.”
Mr Billstrom said he had been in touch with the foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq, Algeria and Lebanon among others as well as the UN Secretary General about the current crisis.
“And just now, I will speak to the secretary general for the Organisation of Islamic Countries,” Mr Billstrom said.
“We will discuss these issues and it's important to stress that this is a long-term issue, there are no quick fixes.”
The government is facing a difficult balancing act in defending far-reaching freedom of speech laws, while at the same time avoiding potential insult to Muslims.
Its position is not made easier by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, whose support keeps the right-of-centre coalition in power, though the party is not formally part of the government.
Members of Sweden Democrats, the biggest party on the right, have repeatedly warned about the “Islamisation” of Swedish society and called for immigrants to adopt “Swedish” values.
