evidence: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson initially did not comment on whether the latest incident of Quran burning would further damage relations with Turkey and threaten NATO membership. On June 28 2023, he described the Quran burning as " legal but not appropriate," adding it was up to the police to make decisions on Quran burning. Sweden’s police had rejected several recent applications for anti-Quran demonstrations, but its courts overruled the decisions, saying they infringed on the right to freedom of speech.[fn]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/28/quran-desecrated-in-sweden-during-eid-al-adha-holiday[/fn] [...] "The EU joins the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its strong rejection of the burning of a Quran by an individual in Sweden. This act in no way reflects the opinions of the European Union. Burning the Quran or any other Holy Book is offensive, disrespectful and a clear act of provocation. Manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Europe", said the statement