Iraq Summons Swedish Ambassador Over Quran Burning

Iraq flag

BAGHDAD, Jun 30 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, yesterday summoned the Swedish ambassador, over the burning of the Muslim holy Quran, as Muslims worldwide marked the festival of Eid al-Adha.

The ministry voiced its strong protest against the Swedish government’s permission, for an extremist, to burn a copy of the Quran in the the Swedish capital, Stockholm, the ministry said, in a statement.

The ministry also called on the Swedish government to take necessary measures, to stop the repeated insults to the Quran, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid said in a statement that, “we follow with great anger the irresponsible behaviour that is being practiced in Sweden,” adding that, “these attacks and abuses have nothing to do with freedom of thought and belief.”

Yesterday afternoon, dozens of Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, following a call for an “angry demonstration” by the powerful Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, according to Iraqi media reports.

So far, there has been no report of serious property damage or injuries.

A Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin, tore up a copy of the Quran and burned it, in front of a Stockholm mosque on Wednesday, during a demonstration authorised by the Swedish authorities, which sparked furious reactions from Muslims across the world.