Sweden: between kowtowing and spite

Three pieces of news from Sweden:

#1:
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds called on the European Union and the Arab world to act together to head off further violence over cartoon row, Radio Sweden reported on Monday.

Speaking to Swedish Television News, Freivalds said there is a need for "common action, for example between the EU and the Arab world."

"(We need) a statement, to stand together to say that this conflict does not promote our common interests and does not reflect the situation we are in, where we are trying to develop a closer cooperation between these lands," Freivalds said.

"There is more to do to together, between the West, the EU for example, and representatives of the Arab world," she told Swedish television.

Source: Xinhua (English)

#2:
A Swedish publishing company Monday withdrew a religious textbook because it contains two images of the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

The book published by Liber was aimed at intermediate-level high school students, The Local reported.

The pictures were taken from a 14th century Persian manuscript and a 13th century Iraqi manuscript. The book was published in 1993.

(notice that the pictures were taken from Muslim texts.. Liber is trying to be more Muslim than the Muslims here)

Source: M&C News (English)

#3:
A radical rightist online newspaper in Sweden has joined the cartoon fray Tuesday after initiating a prophet Muhammad cartoon contest.

The paper, Sd-Kuriren, justified its decision by saying it supports freedom of expression and backs the Danish newspaper that touched off the controversy by publishing Muhammad cartoons.

"Freedom of expression in Sweden outweighs the Islamic ban regarding prophet Muhammad," the paper's editor wrote.

Source: Ynet (English)