An Iraqi who fled to Sweden, who already caused worldwide protests in June by publicly setting fire to some pages from the Quran, apparently wants to light the fire again on Thursday. That has now sparked angry protests in his former homeland, with the Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed and set on fire.
As a reporter for AFP news agency noted on Thursday night, smoke was billowing from the building. Dozens took part in the demonstration organized by supporters of Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr. “We didn’t wait until morning, we went in at dawn and set fire to the Swedish embassy,” said a young protester in Baghdad. He then called out the name of the influential Shia leader with “Moqtada”. Iraqi riot police were deployed with numerous troops. Images posted on social media showed plumes of fire and smoke. Some groups withdrew by morning.
According to the Swedish embassy, the staff are “safe”. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned the incident. The government has instructed the security forces to conduct an investigation and “take all necessary measures to clarify the circumstances of the incident and identify the perpetrators”.
Iraqi flags and Quran must be burned
On Wednesday, Swedish police approved a protest planned for Thursday in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. According to the Swedish news agency TT, when the demonstration was registered, the organizers announced that they wanted to burn Iraqi flags and a Quran. Swedish media reported that Iraqi Salwan Momika, who had fled to Sweden, organized the demonstration.
The Shiite Al-Sadr is one of the most influential cleric in the Arab world. His Islamic movement consists of millions of mostly poor people from urban areas. In 2022, after a long political crisis, his supporters stormed and occupied the government palace housing the prime minister’s office in Baghdad and the parliament building.
Source: Krone
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