A defaced copy of the Quran was reportedly found outside a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden, this past weekend, in what local Muslim officials are describing as a racist offense.
The Quran was discovered chained to a metal railing leading up to the mosque, showing clear signs of six bullet holes, according to a statement released by the Stockholm Mosque.
Attached to the Quran was a sticker bearing a message, written in both Arabic and Swedish, urging Muslims to “return to their homeland.”
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Sweden, following a series of similar acts of Quran vandalism in the country.
In 2023, Salwan Momika, a Syrian man who at the time lived in Sweden, publicly burned and desecrated the Quran in multiple locations in Stockholm, including outside the parliament building, the Stockholm Mosque, and the Iraqi embassy.
Growing outrage in muslim circles
These incidents sparked widespread outrage across the Muslim world and led to protests and unrest in several countries.
Momika's actions prompted Swedish authorities to investigate him for incitement against ethnic groups. In early 2024, he was killed in a shooting, resulting in a Stockholm court postponing the verdict in his case.
Muslim communities and human rights organizations continue to warn that incidents of Islamophobia are rising in Sweden and other Nordic countries in the wake of these events.
In response to this most recent incident of Quran defacement, the Stockholm Mosque Islamic Federation stated, "The Stockholm Mosque emphasizes that Muslims are a natural and integral part of Swedish society. We demand that the responsible authorities act swiftly, conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, and ensure the protection of places of worship."
The statement further urged authorities to prioritize efforts to combat Islamophobia and uphold religious freedom in Sweden.
Mahmud al Halefi, chairman of the Stockholm Mosque, condemned the attack, stating, “ We perceived this message as an explicit racist statement targeting Muslims.”
The Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.