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Hundreds of demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday night. Videos and photos on social networks show black smoke rising and flames shooting out of the embassy building.
An eyewitness told Reuters that no embassy personnel were injured. It’s not clear if anyone was inside at the time of the storm. The protest was apparently organized by supporters of Shia cleric Muqtada Sadr.
The burning of the Koran leads to protests
The demonstrators react violently against the burning of the Quran in Sweden. During a demonstration in Stockholm at the end of June, a Koran was set on fire in front of a mosque. Intentionally desecrating the Qur’an is considered blasphemous in Islam.
The UN Human Rights Council has also spoken out against the burning of the Quran, condemning it as an act of provocation in violation of international human rights law.
Government condemns Islamophobic act
The police had allowed the burning citing freedom of expression. However, the Swedish government has condemned the burning of the Koran as an “Islamophobic” act. The Swedish government “fully understands that the Islamophobic acts of individuals at demonstrations in Sweden can be offensive to Muslims,” the foreign ministry said.
Sweden’s foreign ministry said racism and xenophobia “have no place in Sweden or in Europe”. At the same time, the ministry pointed out that Sweden has a “constitutionally protected right to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and demonstration”. (neo/SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
