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Protest in Iraq: Outrage over Koran desecration

Photo: AHMED JALIL / EPA

A new desecration of the Koran in Stockholm has led to fierce tensions between Sweden and several Muslim countries. Angry demonstrators protested against the action again on Friday in Baghdad, Iraq, and Tehran, Iran. The United Arab Emirates has now summoned the Swedish chargé d'affaires to strongly condemn Sweden's permits for attacks against the Koran. This is reported by the state news agency WAM.

Earlier, the regional powers Iran and Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish ambassadors. In Lebanon, the army stepped up security around the Swedish embassy in Beirut. Sweden said it had moved its embassy in Baghdad to Stockholm for security reasons.

On Thursday, Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, trampled on a copy of the Koran. However, the new burning of the Koran in front of the Iraqi embassy, which he had previously announced, did not take place. In protest against the announced desecration of the Koran, demonstrators in Iraq had previously set fire to parts of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.

The Swedish authorities justified the authorization of such actions on the grounds of freedom of expression. However, they also assured that this did not mean that they approved of the action.

Protest note for Sweden

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry announced that a note of protest would be handed to the Swedish ambassador calling on "in particular the Swedish authorities to take all necessary and immediate measures to stop these shameful acts."

Iran's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke on the phone with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billström. The person responsible for this "unforgivable insult" must be "arrested, brought to justice and held accountable for his actions," the ministry quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying.

Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators gathered in front of the heavily secured Swedish embassy in Tehran. They demanded their closure, as well as the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador.

Turkey had also strongly condemned the desecration of the Koran.

ptz/AFP