On July 20, 2023, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed by hundreds of protesters. The attack occurred in the early morning, resulting in the embassy being set on fire. The protesters were angered by the planned burning of a Koran in Sweden, organized by a far-right group.
Fortunately, no embassy staff members were harmed during the attack. In response to the incident, the Swedish government condemned the violence and called for calm.
This attack is the latest in a series of similar incidents against foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq. In January 2022, the US embassy in Baghdad was targeted in a rocket attack, injuring two civilians.
The US has attributed these rocket attacks to Iran-backed Shia armed groups. Burning the Koran is a deeply sensitive issue in Islam, often met with violent reactions.
The act is considered a desecration of the holy book and sparks outrage in the Muslim community. The far-right group behind the planned burning claims it’s protesting the perceived Islamization of Sweden.
This incident serves as a reminder of Iraq’s fragile security situation. The country is still recovering from years of war and instability. Foreign governments are increasingly worried about the safety of their diplomatic missions in Iraq.
