Mosque Destroyed in Suspected Arson Attack amid Rising Extremism in Sweden
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A mosque in southeastern Sweden was destroyed in a suspected arson attack, highlighting the growing presence of extremists and anti-Muslim sentiment in the Scandinavian nation.
Anas Deneche, the communications director of the Great Mosque in Eskilstuna, revealed that he believed Monday's fire was intentionally set and recounted his mother's account of hearing an explosion before the blaze erupted.
Police records indicate that the mosque had previously faced threats and physical attacks, solidifying suspicions of arson.
Authorities have initiated an investigation, categorizing the incident as a suspected aggravated arson.
Rescue teams declared the mosque unusable due to extensive damage, with the main building consumed by flames.
Swedish parliamentarian Mikail Yuksel strongly condemned the attack, referring to it as another assault on human rights, democracy, and freedom in Sweden.
In recent years, there have been several arson attacks targeting Swedish mosques, with a series of incidents occurring in 2014, including in Eskilstuna.
Sweden, home to over 600,000 Muslims, has witnessed incidents of the desecration of the Holy Quran in front of mosques and Islamic embassies, causing outrage in the Islamic world and leading some nations to summon Swedish diplomats in protest.
Images from the Stockholm Central Mosque depicted the desecrated holy scripture chained and hung from an iron railing outside the mosque.
Similar acts of sacrilege against the Holy Quran have occurred in Denmark, prompting both Nordic nations to explore legal means to address the issue and ease tensions with Muslim countries.
While condemning Quran desecration, Sweden and Denmark maintain that constitutional laws protecting freedom of speech prevent them from fully preventing such actions.
On July 25, the UN adopted a resolution, led by Morocco, condemning violence against holy books as a breach of international law.