Title: Protesters Storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad Over Quran Burning Controversy
Date: July 20, 2023
In a dramatic turn of events, hundreds of protesters breached the main gates of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad early Thursday. The protest was in response to the Swedish police granting permission for a demonstration where reports suggested that the organizers were planning to burn the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
Social media videos circulated, showing a large number of protesters inside the embassy’s perimeter, along with billowing black smoke and flames emanating from the building. The protest in Sweden, scheduled for Thursday, follows an incident where an individual set fire to pages of the Quran outside Stockholm’s main mosque, triggering widespread outrage worldwide, including in Iraq.
According to AFP, Swedish police announced on Wednesday that they had granted a permit for a protest outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, with media reports indicating that the organizers intended to burn the Muslim holy book. Authorities did not provide further details regarding the protesters’ plans.
Eyewitnesses at the Baghdad protest reported to CNN that the demonstrators retreated from the embassy after setting part of it on fire, stating that their intent was to deliver a message of protest against the act of burning the Quran.
The Swedish embassy staff in Baghdad confirmed that everyone was safe during the protests outside the building. The foreign ministry’s press office condemned all attacks on diplomats and staff from international organizations, stating that assaults on embassies and diplomats are severe violations of the Vienna Convention. The ministry urged the Iraqi authorities to protect diplomatic missions and their staff.
In response to the incident, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the burning of the Swedish embassy, highlighting that it is part of a concerning pattern of assaults on diplomatic missions, posing a significant security threat. The Iraqi government promptly instructed the competent security authorities to launch an urgent investigation and take necessary measures to uncover the circumstances of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The incident carries echoes of a similar event that occurred at the end of June, where one individual burned a copy of the Quran outside a Stockholm Mosque, sparking widespread condemnations across the Muslim world. The man, accompanied only by his translator, conducted this act during the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha, which holds immense significance in the Islamic calendar.
The controversy surrounding the burning of the Quran and subsequent protests highlights the delicate balance between freedom of speech and respect for religious sensitivities. It also emphasizes the need for authorities to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions and prevent the escalation of tensions that could further jeopardize international relations.