IN FIRE: Here, protesters in Iraq burn the LGBTQ+ flag and the Swedish flag in Baghdad on Friday. Photo: ALAA AL-MARJANI / Reuters / NTB
The demonstration against Koran burning in the Middle East has flared up sharply. In Iraq, both rainbow flags and Swedish flags were burned on Friday.
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Less than 20 minutes ago
On Friday, thousands of people gathered in scorching heat in Sadr CitySadr CitySadr City is an area of Baghdad named after the powerful Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr. He has been at the forefront of the riots against Sweden in Iraq, writes NTB. in Baghdad, to demonstrate against Sweden’s acceptance of Koran burning.
The area of Sadr City is named after the powerful Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who has been at the forefront of the riots against Sweden in Iraq.
The demonstrators wave several Korans and burn both the Swedish flag and the rainbow flag, shouting:
– Yes, yes to the Koran, no, no to Israel, reports the Tribune.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had previously called on protesters and security forces to ensure that the demonstrations remained peaceful.
The reason for the protests is that Sweden decided to allow a demonstration outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Friday. A Koran was trampled on there.
The day before, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set on fire by angry protesters.
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Photo: ALAA AL-MARJANI / Reuters / NTB Photo: ALAA AL-MARJANI / Reuters / NTB
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Photo: ALAA AL-MARJANI / Reuters / NTB
Iraq’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Twitter that it strongly condemns the actions of the protesters.
Several Muslim countries have condemned Sweden and called in Swedish diplomats.
This has happened:
A month ago, the Christian Iraqi Salwan Momika set fire to the Koran outside a mosque in Stockholm during the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. The burning of the Koran triggered several protests in Muslim countries. Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set on fire by several hundred protesters on the night of Thursday. It happened ahead of a new planned Koran burning on Thursday. On Thursday afternoon, Iraq asked Sweden’s diplomat to leave the country. They have been clear that they do not want Sweden to allow Koran burnings.
Protests in several countries
The burning of the Koran has sparked demonstrations in several countries, including Iran and Lebanon.
In Iran, thousands marched in Tehran and other cities throughout the country.
– Even if they burn it, we will stand by it, was shouted, writes the Tribune.
Spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanani says according to Al Jazeera that Iran holds Sweden responsible for “the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims all over the world”.
BRANT SWEDISH FLAG: Protesters in Tehran, Iran Friday. Photo: Sobhan Farajvan / Zuma Press
Iran says on Friday evening that it does not want to receive a new ambassador from Sweden, writes NTB.
– The Swedish ambassador’s term is over, and we will not accept a new one until the Swedish government follows up the violation of the Koran properly, says Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to state Iranian television.
He says Iran will not send an ambassador to Sverge either.
Demonstrators in Lebanon gathered outside mosques in the country on Friday, after the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah called on people to show up for the protests.
Also in Lebanon, a Swedish flag was burned, writes Al Jazeera.
The same has previously happened in Pakistan:
Leader of the Iran-backed militia, Sayeed Hassan Nasrallah, is asking Arab and Muslim countries to follow Iraq’s example and expel Swedish ambassadors and bring home their ambassadors in Sweden.
According to Al Jazeera, several of Sweden’s ambassadors have been called into the carpet in the wake of the embassy storming in Iraq on Friday. This applies, among other things, in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, writes the channel.
Norway condemns the attack
Norway condemns the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad last night, writes Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an e-mail to NTB.
– Attacks against diplomatic personnel and foreign missions are a serious breach of the Vienna Convention. Iraqi authorities are responsible for protecting diplomatic personnel and foreign missions, says spokesperson Mariken Bruusgaard Harbitz in the Foreign Ministry.
She adds that there are no Norwegian Foreign Ministry employees in Baghdad now.
Published:
Published: 22.07.23 at 03:50
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2023-07-22 01:50:32
#Thousands #streets #burn #rainbow #flags #Iraq
