Arab Canada News

News

Anti-Islam slogans on the walls of a Stockholm mosque

Anti-Islam slogans on the walls of a Stockholm mosque

By Omayma othmani

Published: November 10, 2023

Unknown individuals drew slogans and phrases hostile to Islam on the doors of the Great Stockholm Mosque, related to the war between Israel and the "Hamas" movement.

The mosque's Facebook page published pictures of the drawings on the mosque's wooden doors, accompanied by a text condemning the increase in Islamophobia and racism against Arabs due to the war in Palestine.

It stated that "many people, especially those of Palestinian background, have witnessed an increase in racism and suspicion at workplaces, in schools, and on the street, and many of them feel worried and afraid of retaliation and hate crimes when they openly show their Palestinian identity or support the Palestinian cause."

The mosque administration also expressed its regret "that this kind of racism and hate crimes are actively provoked by politicians and opinion makers who tend to generalize and suspect entire groups of people."

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed commented on this act, expressing their dissatisfaction and rejection of this type of "activities that are considered hate crimes against Muslims."

Kristersson also said that "Muslims must feel safe in practicing their religious rituals in Sweden."

The police had confirmed the rise in Islamophobic and anti-Semitic attacks since the outbreak of the recent events in Israel and Gaza.

Comments