On July 20, 2023, Iraq expelled Einar Wigen, the Swedish ambassador, due to the Hard Line Party’s plan to burn the Quran on July 21. The burning was viewed as a deliberate provocation and a threat to Iraq’s national security by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Sweden condemned the Quran burning but decided against withdrawing its ambassador. Instead, the government expressed deep concerns to Iraqi authorities regarding the situation.
The Hard Line Party, a small far-right group, has a history of inciting hatred against Muslims and has burned religious texts before.
The act of burning the Quran is deeply offensive to Muslims, who consider it to be the word of God, garnering condemnation from Muslim leaders worldwide.
This expulsion marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iraq and Sweden, as it is the first time Iraq has taken such action against a foreign ambassador in over a decade.
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