Iraqis raise copies of the Quran during a protest in Tahrir Square, July 20, 2023 in Baghdad, Iraq, in response to the burning of Quran in Sweden. (PHOTO / AP)
BAGHDAD/TEHRAN – The Iraqi government on Thursday decided to ask the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave Iraq and recall its charge d'affaires from Sweden in protest against the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in Sweden.
A statement by the government said Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani issued the directives "in response to the repeated permission of the Swedish government to burn the Quran, insult Islamic sanctities, and burn the Iraqi flag."
According to an earlier government statement, the Iraqi government warned the Swedish government on Wednesday night through diplomatic channels that Iraq would sever its diplomatic relations with Sweden if the Quran was burned again on its soil with the permission of the Swedish government under the pretext of freedom of expression.
READ MORE: Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed, set alight
At dawn on Thursday, hundreds of Iraqis stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set fire to the building, protesting the latest incident of burning the Quran and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm by the same person who burned the Quran three weeks ago.
We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden, and we hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world.
Nasser Kanaani, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman
The Iraqi foreign ministry condemned the arson, saying an investigation will be launched to find out who set the fire and hold them accountable according to law.
Iran summons Swedish envoy
Meanwhile, Iran has summoned the Swedish ambassador in Tehran Mattias Lentz to protest against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden, the official news agency IRNA reported on Thursday.
READ MORE: Quran-burning 'raises concern about Sweden's NATO bid'
Lentz was summoned by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani, who conveyed the Islamic republic's "strong protest" over the sacrilege of the Quran in Sweden, the report said.
"We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden, and we hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world," Kanaani was quoted as saying.
ALSO READ: Türkiye condemns Quran burning in Sweden
On June 28, a protester burned a copy of the Quran in front of the largest mosque in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, sparking angry reactions from Muslims across the world. On Thursday, a protester trampled on the Quran during another protest authorized by Swedish police.