[UPDATED] Quran-burning: Hizbut Tahrir delivers memorandum to Swedish embassy

KUALA LUMPUR – Nearly 100 protesters from the controversial Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia have handed over a memorandum to the Swedish embassy here objecting to the recent destruction of Quran copies in Europe.

Under the watchful eye of about 50 police personnel, the group, which included women and children, gathered outside the embassy at 8.20am today.

Banners and flags condemning the desecration of the Muslim holy book were held by most of the protesters, some of whom told media members that they came from other states.

At 8.50am, Hizbut Tahrir central leadership member Mu’adz Abu Thalhah and two representatives entered the embassy to hand over their memorandum to embassy officials.

Emerging some 10 minutes later, Mu’adz told a cheering crowd that the memorandum had been well received.

Last week, Swedish-Danish extremist politician and Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party leader Rasmus Paludan courted controversy after he burnt a copy of the holy book in Stockholm, Sweden, triggering a global outcry. 

“We call on the Swedish government to order Paludan to issue an apology to Muslims for his cruel insult to Islam which has angered devotees around the world.

“As long as there is no apology (from Paludan), we will continue to hold demonstrations,” Mu’adz warned in his speech, which was interspersed with religious chants from the group. 

He also suggested that the Malaysian government deploy armed forces to Sweden to send a firm message to those who commit blasphemy against Islam. 

“The only viable response (to those insulting Islam) is to teach them a lesson through jihad.”

Taking aim at “complacent” leaders, he urged the government to take firmer action against instigators of hate towards Islam. 

The group is expected to head to the Dutch embassy here at 2pm today to deliver another memorandum regarding a similar incident.

This is in reference to the tearing of the Quran and walking over it by Edwin Wagensveld, who is the head of the Dutch chapter of the German Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamicisation of the Occident.

Later on, a separate gathering was similarly staged outside the embassy, with several other non-governmental organisations submitting their own memorandums. 

Among those spotted in the crowd include Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan, activist Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah and Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association president Datuk Nadzim Johan. 

Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said an officer from the embassy has assured that the Swedish prime minister will be notified about today’s protests. 

“If Sweden continues to allow this so-called freedom of expression, what are they going to do when the dominant religion there is attacked?” he questioned. 

“We are open to holding dialogue sessions and educating others on the messages in the Quran.

“We have even sent over a Quran to the (Swedish) ambassador. He can approach us if there are any Islamic teachings he does not understand.”

Besides that, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia president Datuk Ibrahim Ali called on the Swedish government to conduct “serious and urgent investigations” into Paludan’s actions. 

“If there is no apology on behalf of the Swedish government, Putra urges the Malaysian government to break diplomatic relations with the country.”

He added that Muslims all over the world should boycott Swedish products and brands such as Ikea, Electrolux and Volvo.

Meanwhile, Hizbut Tahrir is a global organisation looking to re-establish the Islamic caliphate that would unite the Muslim community into a single state that implements shariah law. 

It has already been banned by scores of countries globally for its supposed deviating views, including China, Germany, Russia, Indonesia, and almost every other Muslim nation, except a few. 

HTM’s own existence in Malaysia has been a point of serious contention, with several state Islamic bodies already declaring the group’s ideology to conflict with the Sunni denomination practised in the country. – The Vibes, January 27, 2023

Additional reporting by Maithilli Kalaiselvan