Sweden and Denmark have seen a string of protests in recent weeks, in which copies of the Qur'an were burned or otherwise damaged, prompting outrage in Muslim countries and demands that the Nordic governments put a stop to the burnings.
Both countries said they were examining ways to legally limit such acts in an attempt to de-escalate tensions.
Speaking in Stockholm yesterday, hours after two Iraqi men who have taken part in previous such protests were permitted to set fire to a Qur'an outside the Swedish parliament, Kristersson said such acts were "dragging Sweden into international conflicts".
Warning that threats to Sweden had increased after the recent incidents, Kristersson said he was working "day and night" to respond to the issue and that he was in close dialogue with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has condemned the protests and called for the United Nations to intervene.
Standing alongside Gunnar Strömmer, Sweden's justice minister, in front of a sea of blue and yellow Swedish and EU flags, he struck an urgent and serious tone.
"As everyone knows we have a complicated security situation both in and around Sweden," he told dozens of gathered reporters, listing the war in Ukraine and Sweden's pending Nato application, which is still to be approved by Turkey and Hungary.
Kristersson, who is the leader of the Moderates party and who leads a minority coalition that depends on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats, added: "There are also actors who wish us harm in different ways, who are spreading false images of Sweden that are dangerous."
A spokesperson for Kristersson declined to specify the identity of those posing a threat to the country, but confirmed that Russia was "one of several actors trying to influence Sweden through disinformation".
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin August 02, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin August 02, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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