Swedish Embassy Attacked in Baghdad Over Planned Qur’an Burning in Stockholm

A planned Qur’an burning in Stockholm has triggered a diplomatic crisis between Iraq and Sweden, culminating in the assault and burning of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. The fallout from the controversial event has seen Iraq expel the Swedish ambassador, recalling its chargé d’affaires in Sweden, and suspending work permits for Swedish companies, including Ericsson, operating in Iraq.

The tension began when anti-Islam protesters, including an Iraqi immigrant who had previously torched the Qur’an in Sweden, were granted permission to burn the holy book in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. However, in a surprising turn of events, the protesters decided against carrying out their planned act.

Following the incident, the Swedish foreign minister assured the safety of embassy personnel while openly criticizing the Iraqi authorities for their inability to provide adequate security for the embassy. The attack on the diplomatic mission in Baghdad has raised concerns over the safety of diplomatic staff in the region.

In response to the attack on its embassy, Iraq has taken decisive measures. The government condemned the burning of the embassy and vowed to prioritize the safeguarding of diplomatic missions within its borders. Nevertheless, Iraq has also warned that it may sever diplomatic ties with Sweden if similar incidents occur in the future.

As the situation unfolds, both the United States Department of State and the European Union have swiftly condemned the attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. The EU, in particular, has called on Iraq to implement robust security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to simmer in Stockholm. Prior to the attempted Qur’an burning, Iraqi authorities decided to recall their chargé d’affaires to Sweden, signaling a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.