On Thursday, during a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee, committed a controversial act by trampling on Islam’s holy book, the Koran, although he refrained from burning it, as he had previously threatened. The demonstration, which had been authorized by the Swedish authorities, was intended to burn the Koran and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi embassy in the city.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al Sudani, in response to the Swedish authorities’ move to allow the protest and the potential burning of the Koran, ordered the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave the territory, condemning the Swedish government’s repeated authorizations for offenses against Islamic sanctities and the Iraqi flag. In addition, the Iraqi government made the decision to suspend the operating license of the Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson.
Prior to this demonstration, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was torched in a protest organized by followers of religious leader Moqtada Sadr, leading to an Iraqi government warning Stockholm against allowing similar provocations in the future. Momika had already staged a symbolic burning of the Koran in front of Stockholm’s largest mosque last June, sparking international controversy and discontent in the Muslim community.
The latest demonstration at the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was accompanied by clashes with the police and the burning of the building, resulting in damage not yet quantified, although embassy staff reported that they are safe. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström strongly condemned these attacks and summoned the Iraqi charge d’affaires to Sweden. In addition, the US State Department reacted, criticizing the lack of action by the Iraqi security forces to prevent the attacks on the Swedish embassy.
The Iraqi government also took action, detaining some 20 protesters and pledging to ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic missions on its territory. Although this is not the first case of burning holy books in Sweden and other European countries, these actions continue to be a source of controversy and concern both nationally and internationally.