Smoke rises from the Swedish embassy in Iraq. Demonstrators stormed the building in the capital Baghdad and set it on fire. The protest is directed against a planned burning of the Koran in Sweden.
After the announcement of another planned burning of the Koran in Sweden, demonstrators temporarily stormed the country’s embassy in Iraq 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”.
Pictures on social networks showed fire and clouds of smoke on the building in Baghdad on Thursday night. Some celebrated in the streets, waving Iraqi flags. Among the protesters were many supporters of the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Some of the groups withdrew again by morning.
Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Employees are safe”
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.
Swedish police had previously approved a request for a public meeting to be held outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday. According to the Swedish news agency TT, one person wanted to burn a Koran and an Iraqi flag. Only two people should therefore take part in the demonstration. According to eyewitnesses, demonstrators in Baghdad said the local protest was a reaction to the new planned burning of the Koran in Sweden.
A copy of the Koran was set on fire during a demonstration in front of the Stockholm mosque at the end of June. There were widespread protests in Iraq. 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.
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Iraq condemns attack on embassy
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. It was an attack on a diplomatic facility.
The Shiite Al-Sadr is one of the most influential cleric in the Arab world. His Islamist movement is made up of millions of mostly poorer people from urban areas. After a long political crisis, his supporters stormed and occupied the government palace with the office of the prime minister in Baghdad and the parliament building in 2022. After the Koran was burned in June, al-Sadr called for an “angry protest” in front of the Swedish embassy.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
