Tensions between Baghdad and Stockholm are high after protestors linked to Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in the early hours of Thursday, in response to the Swedish police a day prior approving an assembly outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm where activists plan to burn the Quran and the Iraqi flag.
The Iraqi government threatened that it would sever diplomatic relations with Sweden if the Quran burning on Thursday goes ahead, in an emergency meeting chaired by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
“The Iraqi government informed the Swedish government through diplomatic channels yesterday that it would advance to severing diplomatic relations in the event of a repetition of burning the Holy Quran on its soil and to grant approvals under the pretext of freedom of expression,” said a statement from Sudani’s office.
According to the statement, a decision was taken in the meting “to refer those responsible for the embassy’s burning, who were arrested, to the judiciary,” with Baghdad “renewing its assurances of commitment to the security and protection of all diplomatic missions and addressing any attacks targeting them.”
Sweden condemned the burning of its embassy as “completely unacceptable” and said it will summon the Iraqi charge d’affaires in Stockholm over the matter, a statement from the Swedish foreign ministry reads.
“The government is in contact with high-level Iraqi representatives to express our dismay. Iraq’s charge d’affaires in Stockholm will be summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs for this purpose,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said, adding that Iraq have “seriously failed” to abide by the Vienna Convention and protect diplomatic missions.
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee who burned the Quran last month outside a mosque in Stockholm, has organized the event and is expected to burn the Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday afternoon.
Shiite cleric Sadr threatened that he was waiting for “the firm official response before any action of my own,” saying that Baghdad must react strongly if the Iraqi flag is burned and avoid resorting to “condemnations, as this indicates weakness and submissiveness.”
Earlier in the day, Iraqi foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed al-Sahaf told Rudaw that Baghdad was “worried” about the torching and has given guarantees of security to the embassy staff, while calling on protestors to exercise restraint and avoid damaging properties.
The ministry also strongly condemned the burning and said that it has launched an “urgent investigation” to hold the perpetrators to account.
“This act comes in the context of assaulting diplomatic missions and threatening their security,” the ministry said in a statement.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) also condemned the attack on the embassy.
The attack on the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad is to be condemned. While the right of peaceful assembly is fundamental, the safety of all and respect for the Vienna Convention must be prioritized. Fighting hate speech with violence doesn't help anyone.
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) July 20, 2023
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, a human rights watchdog, reported the arrests and beatings of photojournalists from international agencies such as Reuters, AFP, and DW by Iraqi security forces while covering the burning of the Swedish embassy.
Last month, Sadr called for demonstrations outside the Swedish embassy after Momika burned a copy of the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque. In the following day, the Swedish embassy was stormed by protesters.
At the time, Momika announced that he intends to repeat the burning of the Islamic holy book, and on Wednesday was granted approval to burn the Quran and the Iraqi flag outside Baghdad’s embassy in Stockholm.
Iraq is seeking the extradition of Momika after he burned the Muslim holy book so that prosecutors can take necessary measures to bring him to justice.