Desecration of the Qur’an: Demonstrations in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon

Demonstrators took to the streets in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon, on Friday, to denounce Sweden’s authorization of gatherings organized to desecrate the Qur’an, amid diplomatic tensions between Stockholm and several Islamic countries.

A Swedish diplomat said she was temporarily returning the operations and staff of her embassy in Baghdad to Stockholm, which had been set on fire the previous day by supporters of Iraqi religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

In response to his call, hundreds of people demonstrated on Friday in Baghdad after Friday prayers, but also in the city of Nasiriyah and Najaf, chanting slogans. No, not to SwedenAnd Yes to the QuranAccording to AFP photographers.

Sweden was the target of these demonstrators after two events were organized to desecrate the Koran. Their agitator, Sloane Momica, an Iraqi refugee, set the book’s pages on fire at the end of June, before trampling and tore it to pieces on Thursday in Stockholm.

Hundreds of demonstrators in Tehran on Friday waved Iranian flags and copies of the Koran. Others set the Scandinavian flag on fire and threw eggs and tomatoes at the Swedish embassy before dispersing.

concrete measures

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian later said that no Swedish ambassador would even be accepted concrete measures Sweden will not take it to avoid any further desecration of the Koran on its soil.

In Baghdad, protected from the scorching sun by a sea of ​​umbrellas, worshipers gathered on a street in the impoverished Sadr City neighborhood and chanted. Yes yes to IslamThey wave pictures of Muqtada al-Sadr, according to an AFP correspondent.

The demonstrators set fire to rainbow flags, which Muqtada al-Sadr sees as the best way to anger Westerners and denounce Two weights, two measuresand consisted, according to him, of defending homosexual, bisexual, and transgender minorities while allowing the desecration of the Qur’an.

Through this demonstration we want […] To punish any desecration of the sacred books, and those of Islam, Christianity and Judaism: these are all sacred books.Explanation of Amer North, municipal employee.

Swedish police allowed Momika’s events in the name of freedom of assembly, saying it did not signify her approval.

Repeating such acts under the pretext of freedom of expression is unacceptable and unjustifiedIran’s chief of diplomacy, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, criticized in a phone call to his Swedish counterpart.

Kuwait said it was working on a contract urgent meeting Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and accreditation Concrete measures to ensure that such actions are not repeated.

expel the ambassador

Mr Momica’s actions have already caused a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and Iraq, which on Thursday led to the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador.

Embassy operations and foreign staff have been temporarily moved to Stockholm for security reasonsSwedish diplomacy responded on Friday. Sadrist supporters attacked twice, and the embassy was set on fire on Thursday before dawn.

Iraq also announced the suspension of the license of the Swedish giant Ericsson. But the government backtracked on Friday: Adviser to the Prime Minister Farhad Alaeddin confirmed to reporters in the foreign press that Contractual agreements It was completed by Baghdad You will respect and that’No business has been suspended, not even Ericsson.

And in Lebanon, hundreds of people gathered outside mosques in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, and in other cities.

A follower of the Iraqi strikes, Muqtada al-Sadr has proven many times his ability to mobilize thousands of demonstrators in his country.

In the summer of 2022, his supporters invade the parliament in Baghdad and stage a rally. Muqtada al-Sadr was at the time in the midst of a confrontation with the opposition political camp over the appointment of a prime minister.

Sent with the Swedish file messages to his fans and the Warnings for him political opponents : I kept the same strength, I can go back at any timeAs the political analyst Ali al-Baydar says.

His stream is also striving to To be seen as the sponsor of the religious file in Iraqhe points to. How it will be politically exploited, or used for electoral purposes, will depend on Sadr’s willHe adds, referring to the crucial provincial council elections scheduled for December.