Swedish embassy set on fire by protesters

The Swedish embassy in Baghdad (Iraq) was set on fire on Thursday July 20, during a demonstration organized by supporters of the religious leader Moqtada Sadr. This rally aimed to denounce an event planned for Thursday in Sweden, during which a copy of the Koran must be burned by an Iraqi activist, already denounced for a book burning.

Smoke billowed from the diplomatic compound, as noted by the AFP correspondent from the roof of a building in the neighborhood. Iraqi riot forces, deployed in large numbers, chased down dozens of demonstrators who remained on the spot, using water cannons and electric batons.

Embassy staff are “safe”, said the Swedish Foreign Ministry. “The ministry is in regular contact with him”is it specified in an email.

At the heart of the tensions, the small gathering, authorized by the Swedish authorities, must be held as planned Thursday in Stockholm at the initiative of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee in Sweden who plans to burn a copy of the Koran and the Iraqi flag, all in front of the Iraqi embassy. Customary of controversial performances, he had already provoked the ire of Morocco and Turkey at the end of June after tearing up and burning a copy of the Koran in the Swedish capital.