Legend:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the spiritual leader of Iran.
Reuters/West Asia News Agency
- Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is demanding the extradition of an Iraqi exile.
- The man has repeatedly denigrated the Koran in Sweden.
- Thousands of Iraqis protested again on Saturday in the capital Baghdad against the burning of the Koran in Sweden.
Government parties and armed forces, most of which are close to Iran, had called for the rallies in Baghdad, news agencies reported. There were also state-organized protests in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The Swedish ambassador to Iran was also summoned on Thursday.
Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for the extradition of the man who slandered the Koran in Sweden. The perpetrator of this crime must receive the harshest punishment, Khamenei said in a statement. What is meant by “heaviest punishment” remained open.
In the past week there have been tensions in relations between Sweden and Islamic countries, including Iraq and Turkey. On Thursday, demonstrators in Stockholm kicked and damaged a book called the Koran. A similar incident also occurred in Denmark, on Friday a book called the Koran was burned in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen.
Turkey condemned the burning of the Koran and issued a statement referring to Sweden’s international obligations. The country must “take deterrent measures” to prevent hate crimes against Islam.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry wrote in a message that they condemned the burning of the Koran. It is a disrespectful, provocative act. Racism and xenophobia are not accepted in Sweden. The ministry also condemned the storming of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. The Iraqi authorities are obliged to ensure the security of diplomacy.
And the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the burning of the Koran. It is a provocative act that would hurt many people. “In Denmark there is freedom of belief and there are many Muslims”. They are valued people in Denmark.