Swedish authorities have accused Iran of being behind a mass text messaging campaign that incited protests in response to recent Quran burnings.

The texts, sent to thousands of people in Sweden, called for retaliation over the desecration of Islam’s holy book.

Swedish officials allege that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted a "data breach" to facilitate the distribution of approximately 15,000 messages in Swedish. These messages, sent in the aftermath of public Quran burnings, triggered widespread protests in Sweden and internationally.

Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, speaking on the findings of Sweden's domestic security agency (SAPO), confirmed that the IRGC was responsible for the cyberattack, targeting a Swedish company that manages SMS services. Although the company involved has not been publicly identified, Iranian authorities have not yet responded to the accusations.

Ljungqvist noted that in August 2023, Swedish media reported that numerous individuals had received messages in Swedish from a group called the "Anzu team," calling for revenge against those involved in Quran burnings. One such message referred to Swedes as "demons" and called for the destruction of their work.

The protests that followed these messages, held under Sweden’s constitutional freedom of speech protections, have highlighted the country’s ongoing struggle between upholding free speech and respecting religious sensitivities. The protests sparked outrage from conservative Muslim groups worldwide, and several individuals were detained as demonstrations intensified.

SAPO’s operational manager Fredrik Hallström stated that the text campaign also aimed to portray Sweden as an Islamophobic country and to create societal division. He warned of increasing aggression from "foreign powers" exploiting vulnerabilities in Sweden, without specifically naming Iran.

Sweden’s Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer expressed concern over the involvement of a foreign state in efforts to destabilize and polarize the country, describing it as a serious threat.

Although Sweden has no blasphemy laws or legal prohibitions against burning religious texts, the actions of Iran in this incident have further strained relations. Despite concluding the preliminary investigation, Swedish authorities indicated that the case could be reopened if further evidence arises. Photo by Tasnim News Agency, Wikimedia commons.