Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather for a protest outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on July 20, 2023.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in central Baghdad early on Thursday, scaling its walls and setting it ablaze in protest against the expected burning of a Quran in Sweden.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said embassy staff were safe but that Iraqi authorities had failed in their responsibility to protect the embassy in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
Swedish police denied several applications earlier this year for protests that were set to include burning the Quran, citing security concerns.
"Yes, yes to the Quran," protesters chanted.
Persons:
Moqtada al, Sadr, Tobias Billstrom, Muqtada Sadr, STT
Organizations:
Swedish, Vienna Convention, TT, Telegram
Locations:
Swedish, Baghdad, Sweden, Vienna, Finnish, Stockholm, Iraqi