A woman in her 50s has been granted permission by Stockholm police to hold a public gathering outside the Israeli embassy on Friday. The woman plans to light a Torah with a lighter during the gathering, which she has described as a “manifestation for children’s rights in Sweden that are systematically violated.”
The event is expected to be attended by four people and is scheduled to take place at 12:00 noon on Friday. The police have said that they are engaging in a dialogue with the organizer and other parties, including the Israeli embassy, to address potential concerns and ensure safety.
Israeli Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer called the move “shameful” and said it would hurt Jews, who hold the book sacred. Israeli ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman also condemned the “shameful act.”
Sweden has come under fire in recent weeks for repeatedly granting permits to burn holy books, including Qurans. The country has said that it does not support the burning, but that it upholds freedom of speech and protest.