Iraqi authorities took swift action in response to the recent incident where protesters in Sweden threatened to burn copies of the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. The situation escalated when angry Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in central Baghdad, scaling the walls of the compound and setting it on fire. As a result of this act, the Swedish ambassador was expelled from Iraq.
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In addition to expelling the Swedish ambassador, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also recalled his country’s charge d’affaires in Sweden. Furthermore, the working permit of Swedish telecom company Ericsson on Iraqi soil was suspended, according to state media.
Why and how Iraqis started extreme protest?
During the protests at the embassy, demonstrators were seen waving flags and signs depicting the influential Iraqi Shia religious and political leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, according to reports.
It is worth noting that the burning of the embassy was called for by supporters of al-Sadr, as a reaction to the planned Quran burning in Stockholm. However, in Sweden, the protesters only partially damaged a book they claimed was the Quran, but they did not actually burn it, contrary to their initial threat.
The Finnish embassy in Baghdad is located next to the Swedish embassy, within an area enclosed by blast walls. As a precautionary measure, Finland’s ambassador to Iraq, Matti Lassila, confirmed that the staff of both the Swedish and Finnish embassies were proactively evacuated on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 and were fortunately unharmed.
The Swedish foreign ministry press office also released a statement condemning the attack and emphasising the need for Iraqi authorities to protect diplomatic missions. All embassy staff were reported to be safe.
Diplomatic rift escalates
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani expressed Iran’s belief that the Danish government bears the responsibility of preventing insults to the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities, as well as taking legal action against those who commit such insults. He conveyed that public opinion in the Islamic world was anticipating practical measures from the Danish government to address the issue. The Danish foreign ministry did not immediately provide a comment on the matter.
In response to the attacks on the Quran, Iran decided to delay the posting of a new ambassador to Sweden and reciprocally refused to accept a new Swedish envoy. This move reflects Iran’s stance on the importance of respecting religious sensitivities and protecting Islamic sanctities.
A phone conversation took place between the Swedish and Iranian foreign ministers on Friday, July 21, 2023, although the details of their discussion were not disclosed by the Swedish government spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi presidency released a statement urging international organisations and Western governments to prevent incitement and hate practices, regardless of their justifications. The statement also cautioned Iraqis against getting involved in what it described as a “plot of sedition” aiming to portray Iraq as unsafe for foreign missions.
Muslim countries join forces
The recent incident of burning copies of the Quran in Sweden has triggered strong reactions from Muslim-majority countries and sparked protests in various parts of the world. Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the act as a “despicable attack” on the Quran and called on Sweden to take decisive measures to prevent such hate crimes against Islam.
Saudi Arabia also expressed its disapproval and summoned the Swedish charges d’affaires to protest against the desecration of the Quran. Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the Swedish ambassador in Tehran, and demonstrations were planned throughout Iran during Friday prayers to show their outrage.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh expressed deep concern over the repetition of such Islamophobic incidents that insult the sacred values and religious symbols of Muslims while being justified under the pretext of ‘freedom of expression.’
Bangladesh calls on all parties involved to cease such unwarranted provocations and urges for mutual respect, harmony, and peaceful coexistence among different religious communities.
The tensions surrounding the incident have also led to diplomatic strains between Iraq and Sweden. The previous incident of Quran burning in front of Stockholm’s largest mosque by an Iraqi refugee, Salwan Momika, prompted protests at Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad. Several Muslim countries, including Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Morocco, issued protests, with Iraq seeking Momika’s extradition to face trial in their country.
The Swedish police initially approved Momika’s permit under the provisions of the country’s free speech protections. However, they subsequently initiated an investigation on grounds of “agitation against an ethnic group” after the incident took place in close proximity to a mosque.
The situation has garnered international attention and condemnation. The United States strongly condemned the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, calling it an “unlawful act of violence” and emphasized that foreign missions should not be targets of violence. The US State Department also urged the Iraqi government to uphold its obligations under international law to protect foreign diplomatic missions.
In pursuit of harmony
Nowhere in the world do Muslims burn the Jewish Torah or Christian Bible, even not in the Sweden, though the country allows burning these too. Not because there are laws that prohibit this, but because they respect these faiths and their adherents. Similarly, adherents of other faiths also treat the Holy Quran with reverence. However, there have been incidents of Quran burning in some parts of the world, which are highly disrespectful and provocative.
To address these disgraceful violations, some argue that Western parliaments could consider issuing legislation prohibiting the burning of the Quran or wanton insults directed at the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), without impinging on the freedom of expression. Just as they have already enacted laws against Holocaust denial, similar measures could be taken to protect religious symbols and figures from malicious attacks.
The recent Quran-burning incident in Sweden is a cause for concern, and there is a fear that such actions might be repeated and even spread, particularly with the rise of the racist far-right, lack of wise leadership, and the potential consequences of conflicts like the war in Ukraine.
It is important to note that Jews might also suffer due to the actions of certain Zionist lobbies, which have selectively undermined liberal values like freedom of expression and may have contributed to the promotion of Islamophobia.
It is crucial to remember that the Holocaust occurred in Europe and not in the Middle East or the Arab Maghreb, where Jews historically lived as equal citizens with dignity. The call here is for mutual respect and understanding among different communities to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Open dialogue and tolerance are vital for fostering harmonious relations between people of various faiths and backgrounds.
Islamophobia in the roots
In October of last year, Rebecka Fallenkvist, an official within the Sweden Democrats, faced criticism from Israeli officials and the Jewish community for making derogatory and offensive posts about Anne Frank, a teenage Holocaust victim whose diary documented life under German persecution. The Sweden Democrats, as a right-wing party and a significant member of the governing bloc in the Swedish parliament, took decisive action by suspending Fallenkvist and condemning her words as “insensitive and inappropriate,” pledging an investigation.
However, the situation shifted months later when another individual, Rasmus Paludan, targeted the Muslim community by planning to desecrate and burn a copy of the Quran during a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. Despite previously being banned from entering Sweden due to hate speech, the Swedish authorities permitted Paludan’s demonstration under the banner of freedom of expression. This decision raised concerns, as it allowed the perpetuation of Islamophobic attitudes and actions that have led to violence against Muslims worldwide.
The question arises as to why Stockholm allowed such an inflammatory demonstration to take place, knowing it would deeply insult not only Ankara but also the entire Muslim world. One suggestion made in the text is that inherent Islamophobia within Swedish society may have influenced this decision. The idea is that despite the veneer of European civility, racism and supremacist attitudes may still exist and be revealed during incidents like these.
Hipocrisy at pick: Advocates of free speech muzzle others
Geopolitically, the situation in Europe, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, can have complex implications for neighbouring countries like Sweden. It is not uncommon for nations to reassess their security concerns and consider joining international alliances such as NATO for added protection. Decisions regarding NATO membership involve a thorough evaluation of potential security risks and a country’s ability to meet the alliance’s criteria.
When it comes to issues of free speech and demonstrations, countries often need to balance the principles of freedom of expression with public safety and potential social tensions. The selection of a candidate to champion a cause is a subjective decision and may not always align with everyone’s views. However, it is essential for governments to ensure that their actions and choices uphold human rights and principles of tolerance and respect for all individuals and communities.
The Quran burning incident in Stockholm by the Iraqi man appears to have political implications. Notably, Sweden and Finland had applied for NATO membership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They perceived Russia’s aggression as a security threat and sought NATO’s protection. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was triggered by the US pressurizing Ukraine to join NATO, causing security concerns for Russia with NATO’s increasing presence near its borders.
When Sweden and Finland requested NATO membership, Turkey opposed their plea due to allegations of Sweden harboring fundraisers for the Kurdish Workers Party, designated as a terrorist organization, and providing asylum to those involved in the failed coup against Erdogan in 2016. Rasmus Paludan’s Quran-burning protest against Turkey’s opposition to Sweden’s NATO entry further fueled tensions. As Turkey is a Muslim country, Erdogan expressed outrage over the Quran burning and stated that those who disrespect the holy Quran should not expect Turkey’s support for their NATO entry. Since NATO membership requires approval from all member nations, Turkey’s opposition effectively impeded Sweden’s bid to join NATO.
To appease Erdogan and remove misconceptions about Sweden, the country took measures such as changing its anti-terrorism laws to allow the extradition of individuals linked to the Kurdish Workers Party and the 2016 coup. Sweden also lifted an arms embargo against Turkey. However, the Quran burning incident by the Iraqi man once again complicated the process, leading to further tensions with Turkey.
In response to the Quran burning incidents and their implications on internal security, Sweden’s Minister for Justice revealed that the government was considering changing blasphemy laws to ban burning religious scriptures as a means of protest. The government acknowledged that the Quran burning incident had become an obstacle in Sweden’s bid to join the NATO alliance. The Swedish police had rejected some protest applications, including Quran burning, due to security concerns, but the courts had overturned these decisions based on the country’s laws protecting freedom of expression.
It is evident that Sweden’s decision to change its protest laws is motivated by political reasons rather than genuine respect for religious scriptures. After the Quran burning incident, the Swedish police received applications for burning other religious scriptures by Muslims, further prompting the government to plan for legal changes. The situation revealed the hypocrisy of some western nations regarding religious tolerance and freedom of expression.
