Spark of Rage

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Thousands of Iraqis protested near the Swedish embassy in Iraq’s capital Baghdad Friday, the latest display of anger from the Muslim world against Sweden following the burning of a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque, Agence France-Presse reported.

It was the second day of demonstrations against Sweden, with Thursday seeing a group of protesters storming the embassy and staying inside for around 15 minutes before leaving when security forces arrived.

The unrest came days after Swedish police authorized an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, to proceed with the book burning. The individual stomped on the Quran – Islam’s holy book – and burned some of its pages in front of the capital’s largest mosque.

Swedish authorities had initially authorized the book burning in line with free speech protections. But they later arrested Momika and opened a probe over allegations of “agitation”.

The Quran burning coincided with the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha and the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted condemnation from a number of Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

To protest the burning, Iraqi demonstrators trampled on photos of Momika as well as the LGBTQ+ movement flag.

The book burning was particularly problematic with NATO member Turkey.

Analysts said the incident will likely give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan even more reason to veto Sweden’s bid to join the defense alliance, according to Voice of America.

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has tried to distance himself from Momika’s protest, noting that “there’s no need to insult other people.”

Even so, Momika announced plans to do another Quran burning later this month, Newsweek added.