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2023 Quran burnings in Sweden

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Protest against Quran desecration in Sweden
Date28 June 2023 (2023-06-28)
LocationStockholm, Sweden
CauseDesecration of the Quran by Salwan Momika
ParticipantsSalwan Momika, police officers, protesters
OutcomeProtests and condemnation from governments and individuals around the world

On 28 June 2023, Salwan Momika ripped out and set fire to pages of the Quran during a police-protected protest outside the Stockholm Mosque in Sweden, resulting in counter-protests throughout the Islamic world. Momika is a 37-year-old Aramean man who had moved to Sweden in 2018 after having fled Iraq.[1] On 19 July 2023 Momika desecrated the Quran again in Stockholm, resulting in protests and attacks, including arson, against the Swedish Embassy in Iraq. Iraq also severed all diplomatic and business ties and connections with Sweden as a response to Sweden legally allowing desecrations of the Quran.[2][3]

Background

Further information: Quran desecration § 2020–present Sweden

Since 2020, the Danish-Swedish activist and politician Rasmus Paludan planned or orchestrated Quran burnings in multiple Swedish cities. This resulted in numerous riots in Swedish cities against both planned and realized desecrations, notably the 2020 Sweden riots and 2022 Sweden riots, as well as condemnations and diplomatic protests from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran.[4]

Incident

Salwan Momika appeared behind a line of police officers outside the Stockholm Mosque, holding two Swedish flags while the national anthem Du gamla, du fria played over loudspeakers. Wearing white AirPods and casually smoking a cigarette, he proceeded to destroy the Quran by tearing it apart and setting it on fire. One counter-protestor attempted to throw something at him and was arrested. Momika, who is campaigning for a ban on the Quran in Sweden, also placed a strip of bacon on the Quran and began stomping on it with his foot. Another man accompanying him addressed the crowd using a megaphone.[5]

Protests

Demonstrations were held in response to the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. Two separate protests took place outside the Karachi Press Club on 2 July 2023, condemning the burning.[6] In Islamabad, Pakistan, police officers prevented supporters of the religious group Jamaat-e-Islami from marching towards the Swedish Embassy during a rally.[7]

In Iraq, on 29 June, protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad and briefly entered the building.[8] On 19 July, after another planned Quran-burning, the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set aflame by protesters while Iraq asked the Swedish Ambassador to leave Iraqi soil and severing ties with Sweden and banning Swedish businesses in Iraq.[9][10][11]

Reactions

Officials from various countries and organizations have expressed their condemnation to the incident, including Sweden, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Pope.

  • Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan strongly criticized Sweden for allowing the incident to occur, stating that Ankara will not tolerate any policy of provocation or threat. "We will teach the arrogant Western people that it is not freedom of expression to insult the sacred values of Muslims," he said.[5]
  • Morocco took further action by recalling its ambassador to Sweden for an indefinite period.[5]
  • The United States expressed its disapproval of the burning but also stated that granting permission for the demonstration supported freedom of expression.[5]
  • An Iranian Ministry of intelligence report on 10th July alleged that Momika was affiliated with Mossad since 2019.[12]
  • The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan suspended all Swedish activities in Afghanistan, which included Swedish aid worker groups, and said that the ban would remain active until Sweden apologized for their actions.[13]
  • On 20 July, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador in response to another planned Quran burning in Stockholm.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "From militia leader to refugee: The backstory of the man who burned a Koran in Sweden". 10 July 2023.
  2. ^ https://www.tv4.se/artikel/6njkLrTRSjqAI23fniNCNS/foersoekte-braenna-koranen-utanfoer-iraks-ambassad-misslyckades
  3. ^ https://omni.se/koranaktion-i-stockholm-trots-stora-protester/a/wAp4QM
  4. ^ "Dozens arrested at Sweden riots sparked by planned Quran burnings". BBC News. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Countries condemn desecration of Quran in Sweden".
  6. ^ "Protests held against desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden". 3 July 2023.
  7. ^ "CORRECTION Pakistan Sweden Quran Protest". 3 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Sweden Quran burning: Protesters storm embassy in Baghdad". BBC. 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b Rasheed, Ahmed; Azhari, Timour; Ringstrom, Anna (20 July 2023). "Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over planned Koran burning". Reuters. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  10. ^ https://www.tn.se/article/30318/kansligt-lage-for-sverige-och-svenska-foretag/
  11. ^ https://www.svd.se/a/zE3Xxr/manar-till-bojkott-av-svenska-produkter
  12. ^ ۱۹ تير ۱۴۰۲ - ۱۸:۲۸ (10 July 2023). "بیانیه وزارت اطلاعات درباره عنصر هتاک به قرآن مجید/ کشف ارتباط این هتاک با موساد- اخبار نظامی | دفاعی | امنیتی - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم | Tasnim". Tasnimnews.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Taliban Suspend Swedish Activities in Afghanistan Over Quran". VOA. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
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