Protestors set ablaze Swedish embassy in Baghdad over Qur'an incident

Baghdad: An unverified report of approval from the Swedish authority to protestors to burn the Qur'an triggered hundreds of protestors to storm into the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting it ablaze in a display of anger and frustration.

The protests were triggered by a planned demonstration to burn the Muslim holy book and the Torah, the Jewish holy book, outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm.

Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr led the demonstration, citing their anticipation of another planned Qur'an burning in Sweden. The situation escalated as protesters, captured in videos on the Telegram group, One Baghdad, chanted pro-Sadr slogans and broke into the embassy complex. Alarms blared as men set a small fire within the premises.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the attack and called for an urgent investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable under the law. However, Iraqi police and state media initially remained silent on the matter.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry in Stockholm also condemned the attack, asserting that they denounce all violence against diplomats and international organizations.

For Muslims, the burning of the Qur'an is seen as a blasphemous desecration of their religion's holy text, and previous incidents of Qur'an burnings have sparked violent protests across the Muslim world.

Last month, an Iraqi Christian immigrant ignited tensions by burning a Qur'an outside a Stockholm mosque during the significant Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, leading to widespread condemnation from the Islamic world. This recent incident has further strained relations between Sweden and several Muslim countries.

As tensions continue to escalate, the international community closely watches the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution amid the challenges posed by freedom of expression and religious sensitivities.