EurovisionIslamquranSweden

Europe may once again have to brace itself for a free speech and blasphemy row, as the Swedish city of Malmo today hosts a Quran-burning event. Local authorities granted permission for the demonstration, taking place days before Malmo hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, but both Muslim and non-Muslim religious leaders have objected on grounds of inciting hatred and provoking disorder.

The organisers behind the burning reportedly have a history of leading similar events across Sweden, while there were several Quran-burning incidents in the country last year as well as in neighbouring Denmark. While Copenhagen then passed a law in December banning deliberate desecrations of the Muslim holy book in public spaces, Sweden is yet to follow suit.

The upcoming edition of Eurovision involves Israel, a decision which has provoked criticism across the continent and protests in the host country. Malmo has now been rated as a moderate terrorist threat in anticipation of violent responses. The strong reaction to a far more innocuous Quran incident in Yorkshire last year suggests the same danger would be present in Britain…