New burning of the Koran
Angry Iraqis storm Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad
7/20/2023 6:07 am
Hundreds of demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire. It had previously become known that there would again be a public burning of the Koran in Sweden. The embassy staff are doing well.
After the announcement of another planned burning of the Koran in Sweden, demonstrators stormed the country’s embassy in Iraq during the night and set it on fire. According to eyewitnesses, hundreds marched to the embassy, many of whom climbed over barriers and shouted slogans like “Yes, yes to the Koran”. Photos and videos on social networks show crowds of protesters at an entrance to the building in Baghdad, as well as fire and clouds of smoke. Some allegedly made their way inside the building, while others celebrated on the street, waving Iraqi flags. Among the protesters were supporters of the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said it was informed about the situation and was in constant contact with the local staff. “Our employees are safe,” said the press office in Stockholm. “We condemn all attacks on diplomats and employees of international organizations.” It is the job of Iraqi security forces to protect diplomatic missions. Videos showed little resistance from security forces during the night’s commotion.
Protest actions challenge diplomacy
Swedish police had previously approved a request for a public meeting to be held in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday. According to the Swedish news agency TT, one person wants to burn a Koran and an Iraqi flag. Only two people are said to take part in the demonstration – as was the case with a Koran burning at the end of June, which triggered great anger and protests among Muslims both abroad and within Sweden. According to the Swedish media, it is the same applicant as in the first demonstration, Iraqi Salwan Momika, who fled to Sweden.
In June, during a protest in front of the Great Mosque in Stockholm, Momika burned some pages from the Koran and stepped on the holy book of Islam. In January, right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran at a demonstration in Stockholm.
According to eyewitnesses in Baghdad, demonstrators said the renewed protest was a reaction to the new planned burning of the Koran in Sweden. Extensive protests broke out in Iraq in June. Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Sweden, and Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish ambassador. Pope Francis also commented on the incident and was “angry and disgusted”. Willful desecration of the Koran is considered blasphemous in Islam. There are penalties for doing so in many Islamic countries.