Protesters breach Swedish embassy in Baghdad following Quran burning incident in Sweden
Baghdad, Iraq – Demonstrators breached the perimeter of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday, a day after a protestor burned a copy of the Quran in Sweden. The protests were ordered by the influential Iraqi Shia cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, who also called for the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad.
Videos circulating on social media showed some protesters climbing over a barricaded wall outside the embassy. It remains unclear how far into the building they managed to get before withdrawing. However, Sweden has assured that its staff are safe. “We are well informed about the situation. Our Embassy staff are in safety and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is in regular contact with them,” the Swedish foreign ministry’s press office told CNN in an email.
An Iraqi security source confirmed to CNN that the incident was over, with the AFP news agency reporting that the protestors were inside the compound for approximately 15 minutes.
The protests in Baghdad were triggered by an incident in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Wednesday, when a man burned a copy of Islam’s holy book outside a mosque. Images of the event showed that he was the only person, apart from his translator, at the demonstration, which coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha, one of the most significant in the Islamic calendar.
Al Sadr demanded that authorities withdraw the Iraqi nationality of Salwan Momika, the organizer of the one-man Quran protest in Stockholm, who immigrated to Sweden from Iraq five years ago. “If freedom of speech is guaranteed to Iraq and the world, then the believers have to express their views on the burning of the holy books… through massive angry protests against the Swedish embassy in Iraq,” Al Sadr said.
Muslim countries and Islamic organizations have condemned the burning of the Quran in Stockholm. Iran called the act “provocative,” and Kuwait described it as a “dangerous provocatory step.” The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council all separately expressed strong condemnation of the event.
In response to the incident, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Sweden, and both Iraq and Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the act. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi to protest the Quran burning incident, according to the UAE’s state news agency WAM.
This is not the first time that Iraqi protesters have clashed with security forces outside the Swedish embassy. In January earlier this year, a similar incident occurred following a separate Quran burning in Stockholm.
Journalist Aqeel Najim in Baghdad contributed to this story.
How effective were the Iraqi security forces in controlling the situation and preventing protesters from entering the embassy?
Irmed that security forces were able to control the situation and prevent protesters from entering the embassy. “The situation was quickly brought under control by the Iraqi security forces who secured the embassy and prevented any further breaches,” the source said.
The protests in Baghdad come after an incident in Sweden where a copy of the Quran was burned by a protester. The incident sparked outrage in the Muslim world, with many calling for Sweden to take action against those responsible. Muqtada al-Sadr, one of Iraq’s most influential Shia clerics, called for the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad as a response to the Quran burning.
In response to the protests, Sweden has assured that its embassy staff are safe and that they are in regular contact with them. The Swedish foreign ministry’s press office stated, “We are well informed about the situation. Our Embassy staff are in safety and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is in regular contact with them.”
Despite the breach of the embassy’s perimeter, it remains unclear how far the protesters were able to penetrate the building before being forced to withdraw. Videos circulating on social media show demonstrators climbing over barricades outside the embassy, but details about any damage or injuries are still unknown.
Iraqi security forces were able to quickly control the situation and prevent the protesters from entering the embassy. An Iraqi security source confirmed that the embassy was secured and no further breaches occurred.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Sweden and the Muslim world over the Quran burning. It remains to be seen how Sweden will respond to the calls for action and whether diplomatic relations between the two countries will be affected.
This incident highlights how provocative actions can escalate tensions and endanger diplomatic missions. It is crucial for all parties to prioritize dialogue and respect to prevent such incidents, fostering mutual understanding and peaceful resolution.
It’s disheartening to witness the violence and destruction unfolding at the Swedish Embassy. This incident serves as a reminder of the escalating tensions that arise from acts of religious and cultural insensitivity. Let’s hope for a peaceful resolution in the face of such a distressing situation.