BAGHDAD: The diplomatic dispute over the recent burning of the Quran in the Swedish capital Stockholm has intensified, due to which the Iraqi government ordered the ambassador of Sweden in Baghdad to leave the country.
Salwan Momika, a citizen living in Sweden, once again desecrated the Qur’an and insulted the Iraqi flag.
Hundreds of angry protesters stormed and burned the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. In viral videos on social media, protesters could be seen at the embassy compound in the early hours of Thursday morning waving flags and carrying cards bearing the image of Iraqi Shia religious and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
Read more: US calls desecration of Holy Quran a heinous act
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement on the incident that the full responsibility for the security of the embassy and diplomatic staff rests with the Iraqi government.
The Iraqi government arrested 20 protesters but warned that diplomatic relations would be severed if the Holy Quran was desecrated. When the Swedish government did not stop the desecration of the Holy Quran, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador.
It should be noted that the Iraqi ambassador in Sweden is also being recalled due to the deteriorating situation.
Who is the person who desecrated the Holy Quran?
The name of the person who desecrated the Holy Quran several times is Salwan Momika, who belongs to Hamdaniya District of Mosul Province, Iraq.
Sloan also led a militia in the Iraqi city of Nineveh before seeking asylum in Sweden. This person is wanted by Iraq in several cases including fraud.
Salwan fled to Sweden several years ago and the Iraqi government has formally requested the Swedish government to extradite him. However, the Swedish government has not yet handed over Salwan to the Iraqi government.
