Hundreds of people have stormed the premises of the Swedish embassy in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, after a Quran was burnt during a protest in Sweden earlier in the week.
Africa Today News, New York had on Wednesday reported that a man whose name was given as Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam’s holy book outside Stockholm’s central mosque.
The Quran burning has attracted condemnation from many Muslim-majority countries.
A crowd gathered just outside the compound of the embassy in Baghdad on Thursday after a powerful cleric called for an ‘angry’ protest.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show dozens of protesters walking inside the courtyard
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A journalist who visited the scene on Friday morning said the crowd briefly entered the building and remained inside for about 15 minutes before leaving when local security forces were deployed.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Muslims consider the Quran the sacred word of God and view any intentional damage or show of disrespect towards it as deeply offensive.
The Quran burning on Wednesday took place as Muslims around the world celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar.
Swedish police had given Mr Momika a permit for the protest, in accordance with free-speech laws. But later police said the incident was being investigated for incitement of hatred.
The incident has also sparked anger in other Muslim-majority nations including Turkey – a Nato member which has a say over whether Sweden also gains membership.
Turkey – which was also angered by a Quran burning protest earlier this year – said it was ‘unacceptable” to allow such ‘anti-Islamic actions’ to take place ‘under the pretext of freedom of expression’.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: ‘We will eventually teach the arrogant Westerners that insulting Muslims is not freedom of thought.’
Middle Eastern nations including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt strongly criticised the burning.
Morocco and Jordan have recalled their ambassadors to Stockholm, and Morocco has also summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires in Rabat.