Sweden Faces New Diplomatic Headache Following Latest Quran Burning Stunt
4th July 2023
Sweden’s latest Quran-burning demonstration, which this time saw an Iraqi national set fire to the Islamic holy book outside of Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday, June 28th, as Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha, has prompted widespread fury across the Muslim world and a diplomatic debacle for the Swedish government as well.
Sweden’s ruling center-right coalition, despite having condemned the desecration of the Islamic holy book and insisting the stunt “in no way reflects the opinions” held by the government, has faced significant backlash on multiple fronts, including—but not limited to—having its embassy in Baghdad, Iraq stormed by an angry mob, the state broadcaster SVT Nyheter reports.
Incensed by the Quran burning, dozens of protesters led by the Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr gathered outside of the Swedish embassy in the Iraqi capital on Thursday, June 29th, before storming and occupying the building for 15 minutes prior to the deployment of local security forces. Luckily, no one was injured as the embassy’s staff had vacated the premises before its walls were breached by the protesters.
Freedom of speech is not a Muslim value. (Imagine the yawns if they had burned a Bible instead.)