Iraqi refugee, radical Christian plan Sweden Quran burning before Eurovision

An Iraqi refugee and a radical Christian reportedly intend to burn a Quran in Sweden a day before the Eurovision Song Contest kicks off next week.

Iraqi refugee Salwan Najem, who has gained Swedish citizenship, and radical Christian Jade Sandberg, who wants Islam banned from the Scandinavian country, have requested approval to burn the sacred text, British newspaper The Daily Mail reported.

The newspaper said that police had received a request to burn the Quran in Malmo, the city where Eurovision will begin on 7 May.

Malmo Police District chief Petra Stenkula said the request to burn the Quran was being considered. Burning the Quran is not a violation of the law in Sweden.

Last year Salwan Momika, an Iraqi Christian asylum seeker, publicly burned the Quran on more than one occasion after receiving permission from Swedish authorities amid widespread anger from Muslim communities.

Stenkula said 10 other requests had been lodged by pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups for demonstrations outside the Malmo Arena during Eurovision.

Malmo is a city of more than 350,000 people and has a Muslim population of 50,000.

Eurovision will kick off in Sweden with two semi-finals before the competition's grand final takes place on 11 May. Israel is among 37 countries taking part in this year's edition of the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the competition, has resisted calls for Israel to be excluded due to its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced millions more.