Iraq on Thursday expelled Sweden‘s ambassador in response to an incident where a man allegedly desecrated a copy of the Koran during a protest in Stockholm.
This action came shortly after the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was set on fire in connection with the planned protest.
Sweden witnessed a provocative act by Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old refugee from Iraq, who protested by stomping and kicking the Koran. However, this time, he opted not to burn the book, which had caused controversy earlier when he set pages on fire outside Stockholm’s main mosque.
Past instances of protests in Sweden and various European nations have witnessed far-right and other activists invoking free speech protections as they vandalize or destroy religious symbols or books, leading to widespread protests and escalating diplomatic strains.
As tensions escalated after the Thursday protest in Stockholm, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani’s office released a statement, disclosing his decision to expel the Swedish ambassador from Baghdad.
Read also: Quran-Burning Stunt: Morocco Recalls Sweden Envoy
Coinciding with the Thursday protest in Stockholm, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani released a statement, revealing his decision to ask the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to exit Iraqi territory.
It said the decision was ‘prompted by the Swedish government’s repeated permission for the burning of the holy Koran, insulting Islamic sanctities and the burning of the Iraqi flag.’
As night fell, protesters managed to breach the Swedish embassy compound in Baghdad, setting fires and engaging in clashes with riot police. The escalating situation demanded an immediate emergency meeting with the prime minister.
In the wake of the embassy attack, the Iraqi government not only expressed condemnation but also issued a warning to Sweden, stressing the potential consequences if the second Koran burning protest were to be permitted.
Baghdad had told Stockholm ‘that any recurrence of the incident involving the burning of the Holy Koran on Swedish soil would necessitate severing diplomatic relations,’ as related by statement from Sudani’s office.