Swedish authorities have pointed fingers at Iran for allegedly being behind a series of text messages sent to individuals in Sweden, urging revenge for the burning of the Quran in 2023. The Swedish officials claim that Iran's Revolutionary Guard orchestrated a data breach that resulted in around 15,000 text messages being disseminated in Swedish.
A preliminary investigation conducted by Sweden's SAPO domestic security agency revealed that the Iranian state, through the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was responsible for breaching a Swedish company that operates a major SMS service. The company's name was not disclosed, and there has been no immediate response from Iranian authorities regarding the accusations.
In August 2023, reports emerged in Swedish media about recipients receiving messages in Swedish inciting retaliation against Quran burners. The messages were attributed to a group identifying itself as the Anzu team. One of the texts published by Swedish broadcaster SVT called for those who desecrated the Quran to have their actions covered in ashes and labeled Swedes as 'demons'.
While the Quran burnings were conducted under the guise of freedom of speech, protected by the Swedish constitution, they sparked a debate in Sweden about balancing free expression with respect for religious beliefs. SAPO's operational manager highlighted that the intent behind the text messages was to portray Sweden as Islamophobic and sow discord within society.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer expressed grave concern over the alleged Iranian involvement, emphasizing the seriousness of actions aimed at destabilizing Sweden or fostering polarization. Despite the absence of specific laws against Quran desecration in Sweden, the suspected hackers linked to the breach are unlikely to face prosecution due to their foreign ties.
Sweden's domestic security agency previously accused Iran of leveraging criminal networks in the country to target Israeli or Jewish interests, underscoring the escalating nature of foreign interference in Swedish affairs.
