Diksia.com - Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee in Sweden, recently burned copies of the Koran outside Stockholm’s largest mosque during Eid al-Adha celebrations on Wednesday (6/28/2023).
The incident a month ago sparked outrage in Iraq.
Supporters of Iraq’s influential Shia religious and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador shortly after protesters stormed the embassy in Baghdad and set fire to parts of the building.
They also called for the embassy to be burned down on Thursday (07/20/2023).
The protests have also provoked other demonstrations in Muslim-majority countries.
According to Al Jazeera, the following is a summary of a number of acts of burning copies of the Qur’an and international reactions:
1. June 28, 2023
– Momika waves two Swedish flags and plays the country’s national anthem in front of Stockholm’s Central Mosque on June 28, 2023.
Then he tore up a copy of the Koran and burned it.
– Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized the incident.
Fidan said it was unacceptable to allow Islamophobic protests in the name of freedom of expression.
– The US Department of State (US) condemned the incident and called on Turkey to agree to Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
2. June 29, 2023
– Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Sweden for the incident on Thursday (06/29/2023).
Erdogan said Ankara will never bow to a policy of provocation or threats.
“We will teach arrogant Westerners that insulting Muslims’ sacred values is not freedom of expression,” he said.
– Iraq summoned the Swedish ambassador and called the act “racist” and “irresponsible”.
Hundreds of Iraqis stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad after al-Sadr urged people to do so.
Baghdad described Sweden as “Islamophobic”.
– Morocco recalls its ambassador to Sweden to Rabat indefinitely.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco also called the Swedish representation in Rabat and expressed its “strong condemnation of this attack and its rejection of this unacceptable action”.
– A number of Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also voiced their condemnation.
– The US State Department condemns the burning of copies of the Koran.
3. 2 July 2023
– The 57-member Organization for Islamic Cooperation said on Sunday (07/02/2023) that international law and other collective action are needed to prevent future incidents related to the desecration of the Koran.
– The Swedish government condemned the incident, calling it “Islamophobia”.
4. 3 July 2023
Pope Francis condemned Momika’s actions, saying he was “angry and disgusted” at the desecration of Muslim holy books.
5. 7 July 2023
– Muslims in Pakistan, including in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, held rallies to celebrate Holy Quran Day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for protests.
6. 11 July 2023
– Muslim countries submitted an application to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Organization on Tuesday (07/11/2023).
They urged countries to review their laws and close loopholes that “could hamper the prevention and prosecution of acts and the promotion of religious hatred.”
7. 12 July 2023
– The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on religious hatred and bigotry on Monday (12/07/2023).
However, like all Council decisions, it is not legally binding.
8. 15 July 2023
– In another incident, Ahmad Alloush (32) canceled plans to burn the Torah and Bible in front of the Israeli embassy in Sweden on Saturday (07/15/2023).
