Last month, incidents of Quranic desecration in Sweden and Denmark unleashed a visceral reaction in the Muslim world, precipitating significant diplomatic and geopolitical tension.
In the West, the burning of the Quran in two Scandinavian countries has led to debates about the intersection between geopolitics and the need for states to support respect for faith.
In an era of increased geopolitical competition and with the Organization for Islamic Cooperation calling for a downgrade in relations as a response, Western states should do more to respect the practice of faith in their countries.
The book burnings resulted in palpable diplomatic tension with the Muslim world and significant geopolitical consequences.
Within days, the Swedish envoy to Iraq was ousted and Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish charge d’affaires.
Countries such as Egypt also summoned the Danish envoy to inform them of their condemnation and resentment of the desecration.
The stance that Muslim-majority countries have taken was further elevated through an emergency meeting held by the OIC. This ‘extraordinary’ session, consisting of the organisation's Council of Foreign Ministers, called for its 57 member states to consider downgrading relations with Sweden and Denmark.
The Quran burning in Sweden was particularly ill-timed as it came during tense negotiations for the country's accession to the Nato alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey had been the primary impediment to Sweden’s admittance to the Nato security umbrella, with the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, tweeting that it was “unacceptable to allow anti-Islam protests in the name of freedom of expression”.
The collapse in relations between the West and Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine also has implications for these issues. Scandinavian governments have accused Moscow of engineering a disinformation campaign to take advantage of the burning incidents.
The Swedish minister for civil defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, stated that [Russia] has been “amplifying incorrect statements such as that the Swedish state is behind the desecration of holy scriptures”.
The substantial diplomatic and geopolitical consequences following acts of religious hatred should elevate the debate about respect and protection of faith in Western countries to another level.
As the West seeks to reassert its influence in the Middle East, incidents such as these are not only debasing to Islam but are also a further wedge to divide the Islamic world from the West.
Scandinavian leaders are rightly recognising these events as an opportunity for change. The Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson drew a connection between them and Sweden and Denmark’s geopolitical situation, where the countries “are in the most serious security policy situation since Second World War”.
These events have created an unhelpful perception that their countries are considered “facilitators of insult and denigration of the cultures, religions and traditions of other countries”.
By bringing geopolitical considerations into specific cases, Denmark is discussing finding a “legal tool” to prevent Quran burnings, specifically when these incidents have security consequences.
Mr Kristersson has similarly “begun work on analysing the legal situation – including the law of order … to consider measures to strengthen our national security and the security of Swedes in Sweden and in the world”.
Leaders are being careful to safeguard the right to free speech as liberal democracies, while putting in place provisions to protect religion.
Sweden and Denmark are two of the world’s most secular states, do not have blasphemy laws and have centuries-old protections for freedom of speech akin to the US First Amendment.
While protests can be blocked if there is a threat to public safety, governments should also consider geopolitical implications.
Aiming to drive a wedge between the West and the Muslim World, Russia can weaponise these events through disinformation. Nuances such as “we don’t like it, but we can’t stop it” will be lost.
Governments should develop a tangible risk mechanism that goes beyond immediate, domestic safety concerns and includes powers to responsibly prevent actions that will jeopardise national security while maintaining freedom of expression.
Broadly, both countries must work with Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities to repair the damage done by these incidents, both for the well-being of communities and their geopolitical interests.
They should continue to dialogue with the OIC and Muslim-majority states, ensure domestic Muslim communities are protected and listened to with respect, and they should consider the legislative landscape to ensure it reflects their countries’ diversity.
Sweden and Denmark could also consider the anti-hate provisions in Canada, which is another liberal and highly secular country. On the grounds of preventing discrimination, legal provisions exist in Canada to halt actions which incite hatred against identifiable groups where incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace
The challenge for Sweden, Denmark, and indeed all liberal democracies, is preventing the weaponisation of free speech. The eventual goal is to engender a culture of tolerance and inclusivity where both the right to free speech and respect for faith communities is defended.
For many countries, this is not only a debate about free speech and respect for religion, but a geopolitical imperative.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Wicked
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Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Business Insights
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Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight Championship AJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Meydan Racecourse racecard:
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,600m.
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3 stars
Dark Souls: Remastered
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