Iran Rejects New Swedish Ambassador Amid Qur’an Desecration Row
Tensions between Iran and Sweden have escalated after Iran announced that it will not allow a new Swedish ambassador into the country. The dispute stems from protests in Sweden where the Qur’an was desecrated. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, stated that Iran will not accept a new Swedish ambassador until the Swedish government takes serious action over the desecration of the Holy Qur’an.
Protests erupted in Tehran after Friday prayers, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside the Swedish embassy. The protest turned into a sit-in, with the crowd throwing eggs and tomatoes at the building. The protesters demanded the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iran. Similar demonstrations were held in other major Iranian cities, including Tabriz, Mashhad, and Isfahan.
The tensions between Stockholm and Muslim countries began when a Sweden-based Iraqi refugee burned pages of the Qur’an outside Stockholm’s main mosque. The latest incident involved the same refugee, Salwan Momika, stepping on the Qur’an but not burning it. This act triggered condemnation across the Muslim world.
Iran had already summoned the Swedish ambassador to protest against Stockholm’s decision to allow Momika’s actions on free speech grounds. Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian spoke to his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom, demanding that the person responsible for the insult be arrested, tried, and held accountable for his actions.
In Iraq, the government sought to reassure diplomatic missions in the country of their security after protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set it on fire. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated that it would not allow a recurrence of such an incident and assured all resident diplomatic missions of their security and protection.
Sweden cited security concerns as the reason for relocating embassy staff after the attack on its embassy compound. Iraq retaliated by expelling the Swedish ambassador and vowing to sever ties with Sweden. However, an adviser to the premier clarified that contractual agreements would be respected, and no company, including Ericsson, has been suspended.
The protests in Baghdad’s Sadr City were ordered by influential Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr. Some protesters burned rainbow flags to highlight what they perceive as a double standard by Western governments in defending LGBTQ rights while allowing the desecration of religious texts. They called on the United Nations to penalize any desecration of holy books.
The Qur’an desecration protests authorized by Sweden have drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries. Saudi Arabia urged Sweden to take immediate measures to stop such acts, while Kuwait coordinated with Arab states to hold an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to prevent future insults to the Qur’an.
Salwan Momika, the Iraqi refugee responsible for the protests, defended his actions as a means to highlight discrimination against minority groups in Iraq. He stated that he will continue burning Qur’ans as long as he is legally allowed to do so. Tobias Billstrom, the Swedish Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, condemned Momika’s protest as a clear provocation and emphasized the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Supporters of the pro-Iran Hezbollah movement rallied in Lebanon, vowing to protect the Qur’an with their blood.
In conclusion, the tensions between Iran and Sweden have escalated due to protests in Sweden where the Qur’an was desecrated. Iran has rejected a new Swedish ambassador until the Swedish government takes action over the incident. The situation has also affected diplomatic relations between Iraq and Sweden, with Iraq expelling the Swedish ambassador. The protests have drawn condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries, who are calling for measures to prevent future insults to the Qur’an. The situation remains tense, with both sides standing firm on their positions.