Explorer

Swedish Embassy In Baghdad Attacked, Set Ablaze Ahead Of Planned Quran Burning Protest: Report

The Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set on fire ahead of a planned Quran burning in Sweden, reports said.

Hundreds of Iraqi protestors stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire ahead of a planned burning of the Quran in Sweden, news agency Reuters reported, adding that no staff member was harmed during the agitation.

Iraq's foreign ministry has condemned the incident and said in a statement the Iraqi government had directed security forces to investigate and identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, the report added.

The demonstration was called by supporters of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Sadr to protest the second planned Quran burning in Sweden in weeks, according to posts in a popular Telegram group linked the influential cleric and other pro-Sadr media, Reuters said.

Online videos showed demonstrators scaling the wall of the embassy and waving flags and signs showing. They showed men climbing over the fence at the complex and the sound of them trying to break down a front door could also be heeard. Sweden reacted to the attack and  called it a serious violation of the Vienna convention and called on Iraqi authorities to “protect diplomatic missions and staff”.

Sweden faced international condemnation after far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Turkey's embassy in Stockholm. Surrounded by police, Swedish-Danish activist Paludan set fire to the Islamic holy book with a lighter after a long speech in which he attacked Islam and immigration in Sweden, as per a report by Al Jazeera. “If you don’t think there should be freedom of expression, you have to live somewhere else,” he reportedly said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the act calling it "deeply disrespectful".  "Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act. I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today," he tweeted.

 
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Tue Jan 14, 2:16 am
connaught place
9.1°
Precipitation: 0 mm    Humidity: 87%   Wind: WNW 9.6 km/h
See Today's Weather
Powered By:
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

First 'Amrit Snan' Of Maha Kumbh Mela Today, 13 Akharas To Take Holy Dip For 10 Hours
First 'Amrit Snan' Of Maha Kumbh Mela Today, 13 Akharas To Take Holy Dip For 10 Hours
Steve Jobs' Wife Gets Allergy After Visiting Crowded Maha Kumbh Mela
Steve Jobs' Wife Gets Allergy After Visiting Crowded Maha Kumbh Mela
India Successfully Tests Third-Generation Anti-Tank Missile ‘Nag Mk-2’
India Successfully Tests Third-Generation Anti-Tank Missile ‘Nag Mk-2’
Kejriwal Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi's 'Fake Promise' Remark: 'His Fight Is To Save Congress'
Kejriwal Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi's 'Fake Promise' Remark: 'His Fight Is To Save Congress'
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Breaking News: Delhi High Court Criticizes AAP Government  |ABP NEWSBreaking News: PM Modi to Inaugrate Z-morh tunnel , Boosting Kashmir 's Devlopment |ABPBreaking News: Delhi Police Issues Notice to AAP MLA Mahendra Goyal |ABP NEWSMahakumbh 2025 : CM Yogi extends his best wishes for the Mahakumbh | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget