After an announced burning of the Koran in Sweden, the situation escalated: demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Iraq, and the ambassador was expelled shortly afterwards. However, the Koran was not burned.
The Iraqi government has ordered the expulsion of Swedish Ambassador Jessica Svärdstrom. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called on the diplomat to “leave Iraqi territory”. At the same time, the country wants to withdraw its chargé d’affaires from Sweden, the head of government announced.
The reason for the tension was a previously announced burning of the Koran in the Swedish capital Stockholm.
Hours earlier, Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set a fire out of anger at the planned burning of the Koran. The Swedish foreign ministry has now reported that Baghdad embassy staff are safe. The Swedish embassy said the building was closed to visitors. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned the storming of the embassy, but did not explain how it was possible despite security measures and who organized it. The Iraqi police also initially did not comment. Al-Sudani said Iraqi authorities would hold the arsonists accountable.
The Iraqi government had threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Sweden if the Koran were burned. The Swedish government was informed about this “through diplomatic channels,” said Prime Minister al-Sudani’s office on Twitter.
Man steps on Koran in Stockholm
Apparently, the announced burning of the Koran never happened: a man is said to have denigrated the book, which is holy for Muslims, in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. As a journalist from the AFP news agency observed, Iraqi Salwan Momika, who fled to Sweden, stepped on the Koran several times in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm.
The Swedish news agency TT also reported that a man trampled on a copy of the Holy Scriptures of Islam in a green space near the Iraqi embassy. Turned away from the audience and the cameras, two protesters lit the Koran, but the fire did not ignite properly. No one saw the Qur’an burn. Small burn marks could be seen on the book in pictures. The police did not intervene.
Protests broke out after a similar action in June: Momika had already set fire to pages of the Holy Book during a similar protest in the Swedish capital.
Protester Salwan Momika, who wanted to burn a copy of the Koran, is escorted by police outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm.
freedom of speech covers criticism of religions in Sweden
Criticism of religions is covered by freedom of speech in Sweden. However, legal experts in the country consider it a difficult question whether the burning of scripture could constitute sedition. The Swedish government repeatedly emphasizes that what is permitted is not always appropriate.