The Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, was invaded early Thursday, July 20, 2023, ahead of a planned burning of the Islamic holy book in Stockholm.
Irked by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran, protesters broke into the compound and lighted a small fire.
Online videos depicted demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs displaying the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader, Muqtada al-Sadr.
In the videos, a number of men climbed over the fence at the complex, with the sound of them trying to break down a front door. Another showed what appeared to be a small fire being set. Other footage showed men, some shirtless in the summer heat, inside what appeared to be a room at the embassy, with an alarm blaring in the background.
Others later performed predawn prayers outside of the embassy.
As dawn broke, police and other security officials gathered at the embassy as small plumes of smoke still rose. Firefighters tried to douse the flames from the ladder of a fire truck.
Most protesters had withdrawn but some still stood at the site, holding placards showing al-Sadr’s face.
A Swedish news agency, reported on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, that Swedish police had granted an application for a public meeting outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
The application stated that the applicant was planning to burn a copy of the Quran and the Iraqi flag, the news agency added.
According to posts in a popular Telegram group linked to the influential leader and other pro-Sadr media, Thursday’s demonstration was called by supporters of Sadr to protest the second planned burning of a Quran in Sweden.
“We are mobilised today to denounce the burning of the Quran, which is all about love and faith,” Hassan Ahmed, a protester told reporters at the embassy.
“We demand that the Swedish government and the Iraqi government stop this type of initiative,” he added.
For Muslims, the burning of the Quran represents a blasphemous desecration of their religion’s holy text. Quran burnings in the past have triggered protests across the Muslim world, some turning violent.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have suspended all the activities of Swedish organizations in the country in response to the recent Quran burning.
Last month, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, sparking widespread condemnation in the Islamic world.
The governments of several Muslim countries, such as Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Morocco issued protests about the incident, with Iraq seeking the man’s extradition to face trial in the country.
Protesters who support al-Sadr stormed the embassy in Baghdad during daylight hours over that Quran burning. Another day of protests saw thousands of demonstrators on the streets in the country. Protesters then, as well as early Thursday, called on Iraqi officials to expel Sweden’s Ambassador to Iraq.
Swedish And Iraqi Foreign Ministries Denounce The Attack
In a statement, the Swedish Foreign Ministry noted, “We condemn all attacks on diplomats and staff from international organizations.”
“Attacks on embassies and diplomats constitute a serious violation of the Vienna Convention. Iraqi authorities have the responsibility to protect diplomatic missions and diplomatic staff.”
Swedish Foreign Ministry
Without giving further details, the ministry added, “our embassy staff are in safety.”
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the attack. However, the ministry did not explain how it allowed the breach to happen or identify those who carried out the assault.
“The Iraqi government has instructed the competent security authorities to conduct an urgent investigation and take the necessary security measures in order to uncover the circumstances of the incident and identify the perpetrators of this act and hold them accountable according to the law.”
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry
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