BASRA: Thousands of supporters of influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets in major cities across Iraq, expressing their outrage over the recent burning of a copy of the Holy Quran during a protest in Sweden. The demonstrators, many of whom were followers of al-Sadr, called for the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and voiced their strong opposition to the offensive act.
During the rallies held in Baghdad, the capital, and Basra, a city in the south, protesters burned Swedish flags and rainbow LGBTQ+ pride flags while chanting slogans like “Yes, yes to Islam” and “No, no to the devil.” Addressing the crowds in a speech delivered in Sadr City, a suburb of Baghdad, Friday prayers preacher Sayyid Sattar Batat urged Iraqi authorities to take decisive action, including potentially severing diplomatic relations with Sweden and expelling its ambassador.
These protests came just a day after a group of demonstrators briefly stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad in protest. The incident that sparked the outrage occurred on Wednesday when a self-identified refugee from Iraq, now residing in Sweden, burned a copy of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in central Stockholm.
Perpetrator Identified as an Iraqi Christian
According to an Iraqi security official, the perpetrator was identified as an Iraqi Christian who had previously served in a Christian unit of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a predominantly Shiite militia group incorporated into Iraq’s armed forces in 2016. The official spoke anonymously due to regulations.
The Swedish police had authorized the protest, citing freedom of speech, after a previous decision to ban a similar demonstration was overturned by a Swedish court.
The Quran burning, which took place during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, has triggered widespread condemnation throughout the Muslim world. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in response to the incident, suggested on Thursday that it would pose a significant obstacle to Sweden’s aspirations for NATO membership.
Iraqi officials have called on Sweden to extradite the individual responsible for the Holy Quran burning to face prosecution in Iraq.
The protests in Iraq reflect the deep offense and anger felt by many within the Muslim community, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding religious symbols and the need for respect and tolerance in global discourse.
