It wasn’t the first time Rasmus Paludan had set fire to the Quran. The leader of “Hard Line”, the far-Right Danish party, he was temporarily banned from entering Sweden in 2020 because he was planning to commit his habitual stunt of burning the sacred text at a protest in Malmö. But clearly, the injunction had no lasting effect on him: last week, on January 21, he was to be found outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, rattling off a lengthy diatribe against Islam and immigration. He concluded by holding up a copy of the Quran and setting it ablaze.
Swedish authorities condemned Paludan’s actions, while also reminding the world that the nation is committed to freedom of expression. Islamic authorities, meanwhile, have responded with outrage. Several countries have issued statements condemning Paludan — including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Oman — as well as the Scandinavian governments for offering police protection to those who would commit such blasphemy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan also issued two statements, one calling on Islamic countries to adopt a joint stance towards such acts, and another asking the Swedish government to take concrete action to punish the culprits.
If it does not, the consequences could be severe. Sweden has been pushing to join Nato since shortly after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. But in order to join the alliance, it needs the approval of every single nation already in it — and that includes Turkey. Even before Paludan’s stunt, President Erdogan’s administration wasn’t particularly inclined to welcome Sweden, which it had repeatedly accused of enabling Kurdish militants. And in retaliation, Turkey promptly suspended talks on Nato expansion. “So you will let terror organisations run wild on your avenues and streets and then expect our support for getting into Nato. That’s not happening,” the outraged President said.
“Erdoğan and his administration have… framed themselves as defenders of Sunni Muslims throughout the world and thus were obligated to react strongly,” explains Tom Lord, co-founder of the Militant Wire research network. Even if Turkey backs down, there is “a chance that Sweden’s accession could be leveraged by Erdoğan’s administration to gain concessions from the US and certain EU countries”.
But exclusion from Nato is not the only consequence Sweden could face. Paludan’s Quran-burning has sparked an extremely hostile online backlash from a range of jihadist groups. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Afghan Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), and the central Asian Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) have condemned Sweden, though the tone and optics of the condemnations differ. The TTP’s release — issued by its spokesman Muhammad Khorasani — is more politically calculated and mild in its language, resembling the statement published by the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan. Khorasani states that freedom of speech should not overstep the respect for Islamic symbols, rituals and values, arguing that acts such as Paludan’s constitute a violation of “so-called international law” that global organisations should address — or else dangerous consequences will follow.
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At the other end of the spectrum, though, the Islamic State’s Af-Pak branch directly threatened and encouraged retaliatory attacks. It also impugned Islamic countries for issuing cowardly statements and staging weak protests without taking any practical action against the perpetrators and their countries of origin. Indeed, the response to the Quran-burning has caused tension not only between Sweden and Islamic groups, but between Islamic groups with different agendas. Pro-Al-Qaeda jihadist Hani al-Sibai issued a statement expressing anger not only against Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but also Arabic countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Morocco. He called for the “liberation” of Islamic countries from their regimes, which he described as puppets in the hands of the West.
Meanwhile ISKP took advantage of the incident to challenge its regional enemy, the Taliban. It mocked the interim government, saying that while it claims to have defeated the US in the name of jihad, it issued just a single tweet to condemn the desecration of the Quran in Sweden — while also receiving funds from the Swedish government and protecting foreign organisations. In the latest issue of the magazine Khorasan Ghag, published by ISKP mouthpiece Al-Azaim, the group dedicated several pages to blasphemous acts, threatening to conduct attacks not only in Sweden, but against European citizens wherever they are. Lashkar-e-Jhagvi, which recently resurfaced with its first attack in Pakistan after years of silence, issued a similarly bellicose statement, threatening Europeans with more attacks and lamenting that Muslim organisations with money and power are not taking direct action. Other pro-IS networks did likewise, promising to bring the bloodshed to the streets of Stockholm and wage war on Sweden, saying the “infidels” will continue burning Qurans if Muslims do not take up arms and instil fear into their Western enemies.
All these threats cannot be taken lightly, given the history of blasphemy-motivated terrorism in the West, and Europe in particular, in recent decades. The best-known examples include the beheading of Samuel Paty, the attack on Charlie Hebdo, and last year’s stabbing of Salman Rushdie. But there is an extensive history of plots and attacks targeting the citizens of countries where anti-Islam events take place. In 2005, after the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published cartoons of Muhammad, a series of demonstrations and attacks were carried out. Kurt Westergaard, the cartoonist, was targeted in two assassination attempts in 2008 and 2010. The first plot was foiled by Danish intelligence, which busted a three-man cell made up of two Tunisians and a Dane of Moroccan descent; the second attempt was orchestrated by a would-be attacker with links to Al-Qaeda’s East Africa branch, Al-Shabaab.
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Around the same time, in Sweden, similar assassination plots targeted Lars Vilks, who had drawn the Prophet Muhammad for a newspaper in 2007. Both Westergaard and Vilks survived repeated attempts on their lives. But when both died in 2021 — the former of illness and the latter in a car accident — radicals from across the jihadist spectrum, from Al-Qaeda to Islamic State to Taliban, celebrated. “The impact of the 2005 Jyllands-Posten and 2007 Lars Vilks cartoon controversies on the Western jihadi movement cannot be overstated,” extremism researcher Liam Duffy explains. “Al-Qaeda was able to exploit them as a radicalising tool due to the widespread anger outside of existing extremist circles…the blasphemous incidents were seen as an attack on Islam, even graver than the foreign policy grievances levied at the United States or Britain.”
For that reason, says Duffy, “Sweden and Denmark continued to be disproportionately targeted over other Western states all the way up until the start of the Syrian Civil War, which drew the jihadists' attention away” — for a while. Now, Rasmus Paludan’s actions have made not only him a target but put Sweden and Denmark at markedly greater risk of terrorism again. Duffy refers to one IS-aligned propaganda group, which issued a direct threat towards Sweden, saying, “if there is no check on the freedom of your expression, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions”, pointing out that this is a reference to legendary jihadist ideologue Anwar al-Awlaki's influential “The Dust Will Never Settle Down” lecture, which urged violence against blasphemers in the West.
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But despite all this — despite pro-Islamic State media outlet At-Taqwa calling upon supporters to kill Paludan and carry out violence against Sweden as well as other Western nations — the far-Right leader has not been deterred. Last Friday, he again set fire to a Quran, this time in front of a mosque in Copenhagen, before promising to do this “in front of the Turkish embassy every Friday until Sweden becomes a Nato member”. A couple of days later, retorting to accusations that he is on the Kremlin’s payroll (Putin would like nothing more than to see Sweden’s Nato membership blocked), he set another Quran on fire in front of the Russian embassy in Copenhagen, while making provocative statements directed at Chechnya.
Paludan’s activities may well have put paid to Sweden’s hopes of joining Nato, which would have implications for not only Scandinavian but also European security. They have also heightened the threat of terror across the West, while potentially making Westerners everywhere a target. Such acts have in the past inspired violence against both diplomatic missions and tourists. Meanwhile, they have soured both Sweden and Denmark’s relations with Islamic governments around the world. Turkey, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have even accused the nations of enabling Islamophobia, racism and discrimination. It is striking what one man’s repugnant actions can trigger.
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SubscribeThe reactions to the burning of the Qu’ran make a fairly decent case for burning of the Qu’ran.
When the original Danish cartoon came out 25 years ago that set off Islamist violence the correct response would have been for every newspaper in the western world to put cartoons mocking Islam, Judaism and Christianity on their front page. We are only here because of the abject submissiveness of western progressive politics.
Nailed it.
Yes, it’s never been clear to me why European politicians seem completely happy to allow in multitudes of people who hate Europe and everything it stands for.
Because many of the politicians also hate Europe and everything it stands for, or should stand for
Because many of the politicians also hate Europe and everything it stands for, or should stand for
To mock Christianity and Judaism as a response to the hurt feelings of Islamists would not only be stunning, but also brave.
Most people feel only too happy to mock, & even attack, Jews. They don’t need a reason unless it is plain old antisemitism.
Most people feel only too happy to mock, & even attack, Jews. They don’t need a reason unless it is plain old antisemitism.
At least here in the USA the only religion that ever gets attacked is Christianity. Viciously attacked.
Not quite. There have been quite a few attacks on Jews lately. For some strange reason it does not seem to involve white people despite all the accusations of white supremacy.
True although I was referencing about the public sphere; television, music, art…
True although I was referencing about the public sphere; television, music, art…
Not quite. There have been quite a few attacks on Jews lately. For some strange reason it does not seem to involve white people despite all the accusations of white supremacy.
Probably time for lots of qu’ran and maybe even bible burning to happen around the ‘civilised’ world until the medievalists finally realize that it is just a book and nothing magic happens to unbelievers etc. The sheer arrogance and psychopathology of SOME islamics is disgusting……as is the lack of outrage of the more moderate faction…….
Nailed it.
Yes, it’s never been clear to me why European politicians seem completely happy to allow in multitudes of people who hate Europe and everything it stands for.
To mock Christianity and Judaism as a response to the hurt feelings of Islamists would not only be stunning, but also brave.
At least here in the USA the only religion that ever gets attacked is Christianity. Viciously attacked.
Probably time for lots of qu’ran and maybe even bible burning to happen around the ‘civilised’ world until the medievalists finally realize that it is just a book and nothing magic happens to unbelievers etc. The sheer arrogance and psychopathology of SOME islamics is disgusting……as is the lack of outrage of the more moderate faction…….
Not really. The Danish cartoons, back then, were perfectly ordinary political cartoons, that just happened to target Islam and its followers. That is worthy protecting. Paludan is just doing his best to cause maximum offense. No reason for that.
I agree with you that one should not cause offence just for the sake of it, but this not the same as saying one must not cause offence. If one wishes to burn a book, any book, which one has bought and paid for, it’s no big deal; it’s only when a person advocates burning people or their property that the law must step in. Also, if the Muslim population stopped rising to the bait this man would stop, he is very childish and is just trying to get attention.
Replying to both Rasmus and Linda – there are always (1) reasons for causing any, never mind maximum, offence, and (2) reasons for trying to get attention. Both of you attack the man but avoid wondering why the ball is in play. Given that the Muslim population are obliged to react as an article of faith, they will not stop reacting and so, Paludan will continue. The issue(s) are pretty clear, are they not? See comment by Matt Hindman, below.
Replying to both Rasmus and Linda – there are always (1) reasons for causing any, never mind maximum, offence, and (2) reasons for trying to get attention. Both of you attack the man but avoid wondering why the ball is in play. Given that the Muslim population are obliged to react as an article of faith, they will not stop reacting and so, Paludan will continue. The issue(s) are pretty clear, are they not? See comment by Matt Hindman, below.
Except to make the point that the islamic radicals are very nasty – burning a book is hardly commensurate with beheading someone SURELY
I agree with you that one should not cause offence just for the sake of it, but this not the same as saying one must not cause offence. If one wishes to burn a book, any book, which one has bought and paid for, it’s no big deal; it’s only when a person advocates burning people or their property that the law must step in. Also, if the Muslim population stopped rising to the bait this man would stop, he is very childish and is just trying to get attention.
Except to make the point that the islamic radicals are very nasty – burning a book is hardly commensurate with beheading someone SURELY
I suggest you start with burning a BLM flag (e.g. in San Francisco) alongside the Quran to test the robustness of freedom of expression in the Western world.
Very succinct. Brings Diderot’s comment to mind: “Man will not be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”
When the original Danish cartoon came out 25 years ago that set off Islamist violence the correct response would have been for every newspaper in the western world to put cartoons mocking Islam, Judaism and Christianity on their front page. We are only here because of the abject submissiveness of western progressive politics.
Not really. The Danish cartoons, back then, were perfectly ordinary political cartoons, that just happened to target Islam and its followers. That is worthy protecting. Paludan is just doing his best to cause maximum offense. No reason for that.
I suggest you start with burning a BLM flag (e.g. in San Francisco) alongside the Quran to test the robustness of freedom of expression in the Western world.
Very succinct. Brings Diderot’s comment to mind: “Man will not be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”
The reactions to the burning of the Qu’ran make a fairly decent case for burning of the Qu’ran.
“ Khorasani states that freedom of speech should not overstep the respect for Islamic symbols”
The two cultures are incompatible.
And the rest of the World’s religions should point out that that works both ways!
The countries listed:
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Oman
In every one of them, Islam is the primary religion, others are by law treated as inferior and you can burn a Bhagwan Gita or Bible, with no adverse consequences.
It’s not just cultural incompatibility – though that’s true as well. It’s supremacist behaviour, by a religion which has contributed zilch to modern society and technology. And the expectation of respect that they are unwilling to provide to other faiths.
Pointless argument, can you burn a rainbow flag in London with fanfare? Islam happens to be an alive and thriving religion in those countries. Pick a religion that thrives in UK or US if you’ll make that comparison.
Pointless argument, can you burn a rainbow flag in London with fanfare? Islam happens to be an alive and thriving religion in those countries. Pick a religion that thrives in UK or US if you’ll make that comparison.
And the rest of the World’s religions should point out that that works both ways!
The countries listed:
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Oman
In every one of them, Islam is the primary religion, others are by law treated as inferior and you can burn a Bhagwan Gita or Bible, with no adverse consequences.
It’s not just cultural incompatibility – though that’s true as well. It’s supremacist behaviour, by a religion which has contributed zilch to modern society and technology. And the expectation of respect that they are unwilling to provide to other faiths.
“ Khorasani states that freedom of speech should not overstep the respect for Islamic symbols”
The two cultures are incompatible.
Hate to break it to you, but if one jackass is causing this much security and geopolitical trouble through what amounts to a PR stunt, you have a lot bigger problems than this one guy.
Sump’n to that. This episode is more of a symptom than a cause.
We know what problems we have – and they are not going away. There are two different cultures with very strong views about what is and is not permissible, and ambitions that their views are universally valid. And they clash. It would be a lot simpler for us if there were no Muslims – and vice versa – but a rigidly Muslim-free Europe is not realistically achievable, and a war of subjugation or extermination is not in anybody’s interest. What is your solution? Mine would be to try to rub along as peacefully as possible while not yielding on anything important. And people who deliberately try to provoke a war of religion – like this Paludan – we can do without.
They knew how to do it back in the day; only allow a tiny minority that cannot influence or overwhelm the prevailing culture and they will assimilate or leave. It’s not complicated but requires common sense about human nature.
Precisely this ^. The Jihadis burnt Rushdie’s book openly on the streets of Britain only because of the strength in numbers.
Precisely this ^. The Jihadis burnt Rushdie’s book openly on the streets of Britain only because of the strength in numbers.
“ Mine would be to try to rub along as peacefully as possible while not yielding on anything important. ”
> Virtuous. But only because of the complete lack of detail or a suggestion of where the line of importance is placed. Is it not important to the Western way to allow satirical cartoons that expose character foibles, hypocrisy and injustice?
They knew how to do it back in the day; only allow a tiny minority that cannot influence or overwhelm the prevailing culture and they will assimilate or leave. It’s not complicated but requires common sense about human nature.
“ Mine would be to try to rub along as peacefully as possible while not yielding on anything important. ”
> Virtuous. But only because of the complete lack of detail or a suggestion of where the line of importance is placed. Is it not important to the Western way to allow satirical cartoons that expose character foibles, hypocrisy and injustice?
Sump’n to that. This episode is more of a symptom than a cause.
We know what problems we have – and they are not going away. There are two different cultures with very strong views about what is and is not permissible, and ambitions that their views are universally valid. And they clash. It would be a lot simpler for us if there were no Muslims – and vice versa – but a rigidly Muslim-free Europe is not realistically achievable, and a war of subjugation or extermination is not in anybody’s interest. What is your solution? Mine would be to try to rub along as peacefully as possible while not yielding on anything important. And people who deliberately try to provoke a war of religion – like this Paludan – we can do without.
Hate to break it to you, but if one jackass is causing this much security and geopolitical trouble through what amounts to a PR stunt, you have a lot bigger problems than this one guy.
If I understand correctly this man is asserting that Islam and the west are incompatible. The response from some Muslims is to want him dead for burning a holy book. The irony is palpable.
Is ‘irony’ the right word though? The Muslims who call for his prosecution for blasphemy, up to and including his death, are making his point for him – are indeed making it impregnable.
Is ‘irony’ the right word though? The Muslims who call for his prosecution for blasphemy, up to and including his death, are making his point for him – are indeed making it impregnable.
If I understand correctly this man is asserting that Islam and the west are incompatible. The response from some Muslims is to want him dead for burning a holy book. The irony is palpable.
Maybe time to kick Turkey out of NATO? It would certainly take the wind out of the sails of those who claim it is an aggressive, expansionist organisation.
This should have happened a long time ago. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to do this.
No chance of expelling Turkey from NATO. It controls the two Straits, the Bopshorus and Dardanelles, which give vital access to the Black Sea. That is the real reason why the nature of its repressive corrupt regime is still overlooked by NATO. Time perhaps to create a Nordic Alliance – of Scandinavian countries, Baltics, UK & US – to support Finland, Sweden and others against Russian threats. Turkey could then be left in limbo.
Well, the 34 other countries could all resign from NATO, and coincidentally join a new organization (NATO 2.0) the same day.
No chance of expelling Turkey from NATO. It controls the two Straits, the Bopshorus and Dardanelles, which give vital access to the Black Sea. That is the real reason why the nature of its repressive corrupt regime is still overlooked by NATO. Time perhaps to create a Nordic Alliance – of Scandinavian countries, Baltics, UK & US – to support Finland, Sweden and others against Russian threats. Turkey could then be left in limbo.
Well, the 34 other countries could all resign from NATO, and coincidentally join a new organization (NATO 2.0) the same day.
Kick Turkey out of NATO? That might encourage Putin to station some nukes in Cuba….
A student of history, I see.
A student of history, I see.
Much better to have them in and we can see waht they’ve got and what they are doing
We know what the Russians are doing pretty well, and they’re not part of NATO.
If NATO were to fold and a NATO II were to be reborn without Turkey, Turkey would then join a military alliance with Putin’s Russia. It would be a strategic loss, absolutely; but NATO II would not have its principles compromised, it could be true to itself, and it would adjust and get by. Such a move would also fracture Turkey in some respect as well.
We know what the Russians are doing pretty well, and they’re not part of NATO.
If NATO were to fold and a NATO II were to be reborn without Turkey, Turkey would then join a military alliance with Putin’s Russia. It would be a strategic loss, absolutely; but NATO II would not have its principles compromised, it could be true to itself, and it would adjust and get by. Such a move would also fracture Turkey in some respect as well.
There is a deep sense of irony that NATO’s continued expansion, the main reason for Russian anger but also supposedly in response to Russian”aggression”, is on hold because the alliance embraced a country like Turkey that has brutally suppresed or genocided minorities like Armenians and Kurds.
While those same NATO countries are shrilly taking a holier than thou stance Russia’s attack on Ukraine, they happily armed, traded and allied with Turkey while they bombed civilian Kurdish villages with impunity and showed no repentance for the Armenian genocide
The USA has compromised itself with Turkey. All the USA cares about is the air base there…the country is a w***e.
This should have happened a long time ago. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism to do this.
Kick Turkey out of NATO? That might encourage Putin to station some nukes in Cuba….
Much better to have them in and we can see waht they’ve got and what they are doing
There is a deep sense of irony that NATO’s continued expansion, the main reason for Russian anger but also supposedly in response to Russian”aggression”, is on hold because the alliance embraced a country like Turkey that has brutally suppresed or genocided minorities like Armenians and Kurds.
While those same NATO countries are shrilly taking a holier than thou stance Russia’s attack on Ukraine, they happily armed, traded and allied with Turkey while they bombed civilian Kurdish villages with impunity and showed no repentance for the Armenian genocide
The USA has compromised itself with Turkey. All the USA cares about is the air base there…the country is a w***e.
Maybe time to kick Turkey out of NATO? It would certainly take the wind out of the sails of those who claim it is an aggressive, expansionist organisation.
Why should NATO allow Turkey to blackmail it into rejecting Sweden’s membership application? NATO can always change the rules of application. It is about time that the non-Islamic countries stood up to Islamic intolerance. Otherwise say good by to the freedom of speech for coming generations.
Why should NATO allow Turkey to blackmail it into rejecting Sweden’s membership application? NATO can always change the rules of application. It is about time that the non-Islamic countries stood up to Islamic intolerance. Otherwise say good by to the freedom of speech for coming generations.
I do not recall ever hearing any of the countrys condemming this ever complaining about Muslims burning Christian or Jewish holy books Or, indeed, making any complaints when their brethren slaughter innocent Christians &, of course, Jews for any reason other than the fact that they ARE Christians & Jews or, indeed, Hindus or Sikhs, etc.
Perhaps this should be pointed out to them and that they would be well to start to live by the Judao-Christian value of do as you would be done by! It is also time the non-Islamic world started defending itself fully against such terror threats by inflicting Biblical/ Torah punishments on those who commit such deeds & show that we too do not appreciate THEIR attacks on our religious beliefs.
I don’t think this is a fair comparison. A fairer one would be about burning the rainbow flag in central London, or a BLM flag in California and see how much freedom of expression that act is granted.
Careful about that comparison.
*On the face of it* … the rainbow flag (without the Trans additions) reflects support for open acceptance of same sex relationships. The BLM flag supports the notion that law-enforcement ought to be colourblind. As general principles those reflect merits of western liberalism.
However, the Quran has passages that are outright misogynistic. Throughout it has a tone that condemns those – disbelievers/Infidels – who don’t subscribe to Mohamed’s position and authority as a prophet of a god called ‘Allah’, aka Yahweh in other religions. It is also associated with the de-facto hero-worship of Mohamed and treating his behaviours as exemplary, even though there are clearly foibles.
There’s a difference. Treating Islam as some other kind of liberal social justice movement is not at all correct.
Careful about that comparison.
*On the face of it* … the rainbow flag (without the Trans additions) reflects support for open acceptance of same sex relationships. The BLM flag supports the notion that law-enforcement ought to be colourblind. As general principles those reflect merits of western liberalism.
However, the Quran has passages that are outright misogynistic. Throughout it has a tone that condemns those – disbelievers/Infidels – who don’t subscribe to Mohamed’s position and authority as a prophet of a god called ‘Allah’, aka Yahweh in other religions. It is also associated with the de-facto hero-worship of Mohamed and treating his behaviours as exemplary, even though there are clearly foibles.
There’s a difference. Treating Islam as some other kind of liberal social justice movement is not at all correct.
I don’t think this is a fair comparison. A fairer one would be about burning the rainbow flag in central London, or a BLM flag in California and see how much freedom of expression that act is granted.
I do not recall ever hearing any of the countrys condemming this ever complaining about Muslims burning Christian or Jewish holy books Or, indeed, making any complaints when their brethren slaughter innocent Christians &, of course, Jews for any reason other than the fact that they ARE Christians & Jews or, indeed, Hindus or Sikhs, etc.
Perhaps this should be pointed out to them and that they would be well to start to live by the Judao-Christian value of do as you would be done by! It is also time the non-Islamic world started defending itself fully against such terror threats by inflicting Biblical/ Torah punishments on those who commit such deeds & show that we too do not appreciate THEIR attacks on our religious beliefs.
The thing is that however distasteful Koran burning undoubtedly is, it is only by such theatrical performances that the point can be made: Islam has no tolerance for freedom of expression *and* that Western governments are increasingly caving in to pressure to limit that freedom. This Paludan person might even regret having to make his point in such a rude way, but unfortunately there is no other way to make it.
Exactly. No other religion is so fanatical in demanding respect while doing little or nothing to earn it!
The problem with which Islam has to contend, is that respect is earned. That’s difficult for discerning people given the character of Mohamed and the content of the Quran.
On the other hand, Jihadis don’t care, as the most important matter is submission. Submission first, respect can come later, if at all, meh.
The problem with which Islam has to contend, is that respect is earned. That’s difficult for discerning people given the character of Mohamed and the content of the Quran.
On the other hand, Jihadis don’t care, as the most important matter is submission. Submission first, respect can come later, if at all, meh.
Would you say repeated burnings of the rainbow LGBT flag in London be tolerated in the name of freedom of expression before violence breaks out?
Need to be more nuanced.
Think about what the rainbow flag represents (the LGB one, rather than the LGBT one, anyway) – support for allowing open expression of same sex relationships, which have always existed.
The Quran contains passages reflecting misogyny and animosity / threats of death towards those who don’t recognise Mohamed’s self-claimed authority and position.
There’s a difference.
Need to be more nuanced.
Think about what the rainbow flag represents (the LGB one, rather than the LGBT one, anyway) – support for allowing open expression of same sex relationships, which have always existed.
The Quran contains passages reflecting misogyny and animosity / threats of death towards those who don’t recognise Mohamed’s self-claimed authority and position.
There’s a difference.
Exactly. No other religion is so fanatical in demanding respect while doing little or nothing to earn it!
Would you say repeated burnings of the rainbow LGBT flag in London be tolerated in the name of freedom of expression before violence breaks out?
The thing is that however distasteful Koran burning undoubtedly is, it is only by such theatrical performances that the point can be made: Islam has no tolerance for freedom of expression *and* that Western governments are increasingly caving in to pressure to limit that freedom. This Paludan person might even regret having to make his point in such a rude way, but unfortunately there is no other way to make it.
Why don’t Muslims stay in Muslim lands & countries where they are most comfortable? Why must they shove their culture down the throats of Christian majority nations? I am truly baffled.
I think there is some colonial imperialism going on.
And cultural appropriation of all that can be financed by Western taxed folk.
Cowbirds in other nests, letting the native chick fall to their death to extract resources for themselves. Sorry, but this association has always come to mind.
Too many go somewhere else and hate on the native born.
Not everyone, but wow, not everyone wants to value their fellow man.
I think there is some colonial imperialism going on.
And cultural appropriation of all that can be financed by Western taxed folk.
Cowbirds in other nests, letting the native chick fall to their death to extract resources for themselves. Sorry, but this association has always come to mind.
Too many go somewhere else and hate on the native born.
Not everyone, but wow, not everyone wants to value their fellow man.
Why don’t Muslims stay in Muslim lands & countries where they are most comfortable? Why must they shove their culture down the throats of Christian majority nations? I am truly baffled.
Sweden’s admission to NATO dependent on burning a book is lunancy.
Not one country has become happier with immigration since 2014.
Our 1965 immigration act was the undoing of us. No way to get the toothpaste back in the tube.
Our 1965 immigration act was the undoing of us. No way to get the toothpaste back in the tube.
Not one country has become happier with immigration since 2014.
Sweden’s admission to NATO dependent on burning a book is lunancy.
“Freedom of speech should not overstep the respect for Islamic symbols, rituals, and values”.
Where is respect for Christian values and freedom of worship evident in the Islamic world? Attacks on Christians and churches are commonplace there.
The western asymmetric cultural cringe vis a vis Islam today is reminiscent of the 1970s, when the proponents of so-called “eurocommunism” lambasted their political opponents while virulently condeming the latter’s “anticommunism”.
“Freedom of speech should not overstep the respect for Islamic symbols, rituals, and values”.
Where is respect for Christian values and freedom of worship evident in the Islamic world? Attacks on Christians and churches are commonplace there.
The western asymmetric cultural cringe vis a vis Islam today is reminiscent of the 1970s, when the proponents of so-called “eurocommunism” lambasted their political opponents while virulently condeming the latter’s “anticommunism”.
Erdogan complains about desecration of a Quran, while he authorised the Hagia Sophia, the symbol of the seat of Eastern Christendom, to be once again turned into a mosque. No wonder too few Muslims respect the West.
Erdogan complains about desecration of a Quran, while he authorised the Hagia Sophia, the symbol of the seat of Eastern Christendom, to be once again turned into a mosque. No wonder too few Muslims respect the West.
In a speech in Turkish, Erdogan urged Turks in Germany to have many children. The implicit message being to out-breed the Germans and thereby gain strength through relative numbers.
I wish I could say, “Erdogan, we see you!”; but too few in the West do.
In a speech in Turkish, Erdogan urged Turks in Germany to have many children. The implicit message being to out-breed the Germans and thereby gain strength through relative numbers.
I wish I could say, “Erdogan, we see you!”; but too few in the West do.
The Charlie Hebdo massacre occurred on the 7th January 2015. Please create an entry on your social media on the 7th to mark it. It was an astonishingly successful shot across the Western bow to intimidate the West into accepting the integration of Islam and a respect for Mohamed into Western society.
Perhaps the greatest victory is seen where the West has adopted the term ‘Islamophobia’. The British APPG has created a definition for it that essentially considers one being a Muslim is an inherited trait. Canada has recently appointed its first Islamophobia Czar. To openly express a dislike for Islam attracts Canadian government opprobrium.
“Events dear boy”.
Who knows the consequences of actions. NATO should not let the Turkish tail wag the NATO dog. Sweden is culturally compatible with NATO, whereas Turkey is not. Sweden should join NATO and Turkey can leave in indignation. They will of course ally with Russia / China, but NATO will retain its dignity.
The Charlie Hebdo massacre occurred on the 7th January 2015. Please create an entry on your social media on the 7th to mark it. It was an astonishingly successful shot across the Western bow to intimidate the West into accepting the integration of Islam and a respect for Mohamed into Western society.
Perhaps the greatest victory is seen where the West has adopted the term ‘Islamophobia’. The British APPG has created a definition for it that essentially considers one being a Muslim is an inherited trait. Canada has recently appointed its first Islamophobia Czar. To openly express a dislike for Islam attracts Canadian government opprobrium.
“Events dear boy”.
Who knows the consequences of actions. NATO should not let the Turkish tail wag the NATO dog. Sweden is culturally compatible with NATO, whereas Turkey is not. Sweden should join NATO and Turkey can leave in indignation. They will of course ally with Russia / China, but NATO will retain its dignity.
“It is striking what one man’s repugnant actions can trigger.”
Given the poor quality of the content of the Quran, ‘repugnant’ isn’t appropriate. What is striking is that there are so many people who venerate it – most of whom have never read it in a language they understand.
If Allah exists he would not be happy that there are people who ascribe him as being the one who authored it.
“It is striking what one man’s repugnant actions can trigger.”
Given the poor quality of the content of the Quran, ‘repugnant’ isn’t appropriate. What is striking is that there are so many people who venerate it – most of whom have never read it in a language they understand.
If Allah exists he would not be happy that there are people who ascribe him as being the one who authored it.
Trudeau anti-Islamophobia tsar Amira Elghawaby faces calls to resign
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64505315.amp
“…You’ll be told you can’t complain, because you’re Islamophobic….”
https://youtu.be/0EYg8Tgrh0o
Trudeau anti-Islamophobia tsar Amira Elghawaby faces calls to resign
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64505315.amp
“…You’ll be told you can’t complain, because you’re Islamophobic….”
https://youtu.be/0EYg8Tgrh0o
“ It is striking what one man’s repugnant actions can trigger.”
> not least of all the Muslim prophet Mohamed.
“ It is striking what one man’s repugnant actions can trigger.”
> not least of all the Muslim prophet Mohamed.
Integration. Really?
Do Westerners want to fold into the fabric of Western societies the veneration of the Quran, using its passages and tones of misogyny and animosity towards non-followers as a moral framework; and the hero-worship of Mohamed whose behaviour included that of bedding a pubescent girl when he was 52?
I say, no. Western Liberalism is being used by those with an agenda of Islamic hegemony. Our past and current leaders have been kicking the can down the road, one which a future generation will be forced to pick up.
At some point the Liberal disposition towards illiberal Islam will fracture, just as Nicola Sturgeon’s Premiership fractured by something else everyone can see and feel in their bones: that men pretending to be women are … men. What Westerners can also see and feel in their bones is that the proliferation of Islam undermines the West.
Integration. Really?
Do Westerners want to fold into the fabric of Western societies the veneration of the Quran, using its passages and tones of misogyny and animosity towards non-followers as a moral framework; and the hero-worship of Mohamed whose behaviour included that of bedding a pubescent girl when he was 52?
I say, no. Western Liberalism is being used by those with an agenda of Islamic hegemony. Our past and current leaders have been kicking the can down the road, one which a future generation will be forced to pick up.
At some point the Liberal disposition towards illiberal Islam will fracture, just as Nicola Sturgeon’s Premiership fractured by something else everyone can see and feel in their bones: that men pretending to be women are … men. What Westerners can also see and feel in their bones is that the proliferation of Islam undermines the West.
We can let Turkey keep a Scandinavian country out of NATO. Or we could acknowledge that Turkey has transitioned into an authoritarian theocracy and therefore no longer has a place in an alliance of liberal, Western, historically Judeo-Christian countries.
I believe NATO should be re-centered in Paris or Berlin and the US gradually removed from it. However, regardless of your views on that, given the choice between having on Stockholm or Ankara at my back in a fight, I know which I would choose.
We can let Turkey keep a Scandinavian country out of NATO. Or we could acknowledge that Turkey has transitioned into an authoritarian theocracy and therefore no longer has a place in an alliance of liberal, Western, historically Judeo-Christian countries.
I believe NATO should be re-centered in Paris or Berlin and the US gradually removed from it. However, regardless of your views on that, given the choice between having on Stockholm or Ankara at my back in a fight, I know which I would choose.
At the risk of repeating myself endlessly, the problem here is religion itself. A plague on all religious houses. The sooner we can rid ourselves of the delusions induced by belief in a non-existent deity, the sooner all human beings can start to live together with respect and in peace.
The west is losing its Christian values and now revering deviance. Something will always be worshipped, you are kidding yourself if you honestly think anyone live by absolute logic and rationality.
The west is losing its Christian values and now revering deviance. Something will always be worshipped, you are kidding yourself if you honestly think anyone live by absolute logic and rationality.
At the risk of repeating myself endlessly, the problem here is religion itself. A plague on all religious houses. The sooner we can rid ourselves of the delusions induced by belief in a non-existent deity, the sooner all human beings can start to live together with respect and in peace.
Can one nut job really derail the course of the whole Swedish nation? If so its a stark illlustration of the structural disorder affecting socialist countries. The Swedish government reaches far into individuals lives with draconian drug laws, controlling childrens’ names and its own Civil Rights group rates the government “oppressive”. Why can’t they lock this clown up for setting fires in a public place? He wants to bring out the worst in Moslems and the Swedish government wants to bring out the worst in both Paludan and the fringe extremist end of Islam. As bad as each other IMO.
Can one nut job really derail the course of the whole Swedish nation? If so its a stark illlustration of the structural disorder affecting socialist countries. The Swedish government reaches far into individuals lives with draconian drug laws, controlling childrens’ names and its own Civil Rights group rates the government “oppressive”. Why can’t they lock this clown up for setting fires in a public place? He wants to bring out the worst in Moslems and the Swedish government wants to bring out the worst in both Paludan and the fringe extremist end of Islam. As bad as each other IMO.
I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with the Taliban, but this sort of senseless provocation has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Would we find it acceptable to burn the Torah as some form of political protest? Of course we wouldn’t, and we would condemn such an action as an antisemitic hate crime. The reaction of Israel would likely mirror those of the Islamic countries to this outrageous attack on a religious symbol.
Here in the US we had people up in arms about burning the American flag back in the 80’s. But that is deemed protected speech by the Supreme Court, although a particular fire could be seen as dangerous. If we can take it, so must they to participate in our society. They can do as they wish back in their country.
The reaction of Israel would likely mirror those of the Islamic countries to this outrageous attack on a religious symbol.
NO, Jews would not be slitting throats. Neither would Christians, Buddhists, etc.
Agreed – we have managed to grow up a little in the past 200 years – not so other groups who are medieval in consciousness and, unfortunately, are so rigorously controlled and brainwashed that they may NEVER ‘grow out of that “. Tis really best they stay apart cos they appear to never fully integrate , and , even those who appear to do so not seem to challenge their past culture much – unless i am missing something….( or more likely are too scared to challenge their original culture). Quite a mess our naive, ignorant, previous leaders have left us….
Agreed – we have managed to grow up a little in the past 200 years – not so other groups who are medieval in consciousness and, unfortunately, are so rigorously controlled and brainwashed that they may NEVER ‘grow out of that “. Tis really best they stay apart cos they appear to never fully integrate , and , even those who appear to do so not seem to challenge their past culture much – unless i am missing something….( or more likely are too scared to challenge their original culture). Quite a mess our naive, ignorant, previous leaders have left us….
I don’t see them beheading anyone over it.
Um – have you never noticed the bible being denigrated on a regular basis – wakey wakey
Here in the US we had people up in arms about burning the American flag back in the 80’s. But that is deemed protected speech by the Supreme Court, although a particular fire could be seen as dangerous. If we can take it, so must they to participate in our society. They can do as they wish back in their country.
The reaction of Israel would likely mirror those of the Islamic countries to this outrageous attack on a religious symbol.
NO, Jews would not be slitting throats. Neither would Christians, Buddhists, etc.
I don’t see them beheading anyone over it.
Um – have you never noticed the bible being denigrated on a regular basis – wakey wakey
I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with the Taliban, but this sort of senseless provocation has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Would we find it acceptable to burn the Torah as some form of political protest? Of course we wouldn’t, and we would condemn such an action as an antisemitic hate crime. The reaction of Israel would likely mirror those of the Islamic countries to this outrageous attack on a religious symbol.