Petition · past parliament · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Condemn burning of the Holy Qur’an in Sweden
Closed
64,735 signatures
What the petition asks
We ask our Government to publicly condemn the burning of the Qur’an incident in Sweden.
Holy Qur’an was burnt in Stockholm – Sweden on 21 January 2023.
The Sweden Government allowed the protest where the Qur’an was burnt under freedom of expression, but has since condemned this act.
This sort of incident promotes Islamophobia on targets the Muslim community, and we want the Government to be clear it condemns actions like this.
The Sweden Government allowed the protest where the Qur’an was burnt under freedom of expression, but has since condemned this act.
This sort of incident promotes Islamophobia on targets the Muslim community, and we want the Government to be clear it condemns actions like this.
Government response · 20 July 2023
The UK Government strongly condemns the burning of the Holy Qur’an. The UK Government is committed to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, and denounces hatred.
The UK condemns the burning of the Holy Qur’an and appreciates the immense sense of outrage expressed by Muslims around the world caused by the burning of the Holy Qur’an, an act which is deeply insulting.
The Swedish Government has also made clear that it condemns the burning of holy texts and recognises the offence and disrespect caused by such acts.
The UK Government is committed to both freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, and wants to foster a respectful and understanding society. We continue to promote mutual respect between different religious and non-religious communities.
We unequivocally condemn incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, wherever this occurs, and we denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
The Swedish Government has also made clear that it condemns the burning of holy texts and recognises the offence and disrespect caused by such acts.
The UK Government is committed to both freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, and wants to foster a respectful and understanding society. We continue to promote mutual respect between different religious and non-religious communities.
We unequivocally condemn incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, wherever this occurs, and we denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Timeline
| 7 Feb 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Passed 10,000 signatures, requiring a government response |
| 20 Jul 2023 | Government responded |
| 7 Aug 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
64,735
Status
Closed
Department
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Opened
7 Feb 2023
Closed
7 Aug 2023
Response
20 Jul 2023
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.