Sweden accuses Iran of orchestrating a cyberattack to incite revenge for Quran burnings

In August 2023, following a series of protests where the Quran was burned, a group identifying itself as the “Anzu team” sent inflammatory messages to Swedish residents, labeling those responsible for the desecration as “demons.” The Swedish government, while upholding the right to free speech, has faced domestic and international backlash, particularly from Muslim-majority countries. The investigation revealed that the IRGC hacked into a local SMS service to disseminate these messages, but Swedish authorities have indicated that prosecuting those responsible is unlikely due to jurisdictional limitations. Despite closing the investigation, the possibility of reopening it remains if new evidence emerges, as concerns about foreign interference in Sweden’s social cohesion continue to grow.