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| Sweden Quran burning: Protesters storm embassy in Baghdad | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A photographer said protesters stayed inside the compound for 15 minutes before leaving when security forces arrived | |
| Dozens of people have stormed the compound of the Swedish embassy in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, after a Quran was burnt during a protest in Sweden. | |
| Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book outside Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday. | |
| The Quran burning was condemned by many Muslim-majority countries. | |
| A crowd gathered outside the embassy in Baghdad on Thursday after a powerful cleric called for an "angry" protest. | |
| Videos posted on social media appeared to show dozens of protesters walking inside the courtyard. | |
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| An AFP news agency photographer at the scene said the crowd briefly entered the building and remained inside for about 15 minutes before leaving when local security forces were deployed. | |
| Muslims consider the Quran the sacred word of God and view any intentional damage or show of disrespect towards it as deeply offensive. | Muslims consider the Quran the sacred word of God and view any intentional damage or show of disrespect towards it as deeply offensive. |
| The Quran burning on Wednesday took place as Muslims around the world celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. | The Quran burning on Wednesday took place as Muslims around the world celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. |
| Swedish police had given Mr Momika a permit for the protest, in accordance with free-speech laws. But later police said the incident was being investigated for incitement of hatred. | Swedish police had given Mr Momika a permit for the protest, in accordance with free-speech laws. But later police said the incident was being investigated for incitement of hatred. |
| The incident has also sparked anger in other Muslim-majority nations including Turkey - a Nato member which has a say over whether Sweden also gains membership. | |
| Turkey - which was also angered by a Quran burning protest earlier this year - said it was "unacceptable" to allow such "anti-Islamic actions" to take place "under the pretext of freedom of expression". | |
| President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We will eventually teach the arrogant Westerners that insulting Muslims is not freedom of thought." | |
| Police intervene as people react to a burning of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm on Wednesday | |
| Middle Eastern nations including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt strongly criticised the burning. | |
| Morocco and Jordan have recalled their ambassadors to Stockholm, and Morocco has also summoned Sweden's charge d'affaires in Rabat. | Morocco and Jordan have recalled their ambassadors to Stockholm, and Morocco has also summoned Sweden's charge d'affaires in Rabat. |
| Iraq said the incident was "a reflection of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression." | Iraq said the incident was "a reflection of a hateful aggressive spirit that has nothing to do with freedom of expression." |
| Iran echoed Iraq's criticism, calling the act of burning the Quran "provocative" and "unacceptable", while Egypt described it as a "shameful" act which was especially provocative as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha. | Iran echoed Iraq's criticism, calling the act of burning the Quran "provocative" and "unacceptable", while Egypt described it as a "shameful" act which was especially provocative as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha. |
| Saudi Arabia - the destination of around 1.8m worshippers on the annual Hajj pilgrimage this week - said "these hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification." | Saudi Arabia - the destination of around 1.8m worshippers on the annual Hajj pilgrimage this week - said "these hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification." |
| Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Quran burning was "legal but not appropriate". | Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Quran burning was "legal but not appropriate". |
| Plans to burn copies of the Quran have sparked riots in Sweden in recent months. | Plans to burn copies of the Quran have sparked riots in Sweden in recent months. |
| Police had rejected similar protest applications recently, but courts then ruled that they should be allowed on freedom of expression grounds. | Police had rejected similar protest applications recently, but courts then ruled that they should be allowed on freedom of expression grounds. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Turkey | Turkey |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| Sweden | Sweden |
| Iran | Iran |
| Nato | Nato |
| Iraq | Iraq |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |
| Morocco | Morocco |
| Islam | Islam |