The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong condemnation of the desecration incident, calling on the global community “to stand urgently and responsibly towards these atrocities that violate social peace and coexistence around the world,” in a statement released on Saturday.
Ensuring Diplomatic Security
In a separate statement, the Iraqi government reiterated its commitment to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, assuring protection and security for diplomatic personnel. It vowed to prevent incidents similar to the one at the Swedish embassy.
Fallout Extends to Other Incidents
In a related development, demonstrators set fire to the headquarters of the Danish Refugee Council in the Basrah governorate of Iraq, as reported by local media and Sky News. These incidents follow a wave of public outcry when the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set on fire after a Quran desecration event in Sweden, prompting a temporary relocation of the embassy to Stockholm.
Following the desecration, Iraq severed diplomatic ties with Sweden, sparking further protests and condemnation from Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East. The Swedish incident involved Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Christian Iraqi refugee in Sweden, who previously ignited pages of a Quran on June 28, resulting in mass protests in Iraq and disapproval from Muslim-majority countries.
