Hundreds of Protesters Attempt to Storm Baghdad's Green Zone over Burning of Qur'an in Copenhagen
Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdad's Green Zone on Saturday after reports emerged of a Qur'an being burned by an ultranationalist group in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen.
The protesters, who were carrying Iraqi flags and images of prominent Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada Al-Sadr, attempted to reach the Danish embassy but were pushed back by security forces who blocked the Jumhuriya bridge.
The incident that sparked the protests happened on Thursday when an asylum-seeker in Sweden burned a copy of the Qur'an and an Iraqi flag, as well as a photo of Al-Sadr and Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a demonstration.
Although the protesters in Baghdad were angry about the burning of the Qur'an, their demonstration was also a show of support for Al-Sadr, who has considerable influence in Iraqi politics.
Iraq's prime minister cut diplomatic ties with Sweden on Friday in protest over the desecration of the Qur'an.
Thousands of protesters also demonstrated peacefully in Iraq and other Muslim-majority countries on Friday, denouncing the burning of the Qur'an.
The ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter, which carried out the protest in Copenhagen, had livestreamed the burning of the Qur'an and flag on Facebook.
The incident sparked outrage in Iraq, leading to the protests in Baghdad overnight.
The protesters clashed with security forces but were ultimately pushed back.
In a statement on Saturday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident and called on the international community to take action against such "atrocities that violate social peace and coexistence around the world." Another protest is scheduled to take place in Baghdad later in the day.
The incident that sparked the protests happened on Thursday when an asylum-seeker in Sweden burned a copy of the Qur'an and an Iraqi flag, as well as a photo of Al-Sadr and Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a demonstration.
Although the protesters in Baghdad were angry about the burning of the Qur'an, their demonstration was also a show of support for Al-Sadr, who has considerable influence in Iraqi politics.
Iraq's prime minister cut diplomatic ties with Sweden on Friday in protest over the desecration of the Qur'an.
Thousands of protesters also demonstrated peacefully in Iraq and other Muslim-majority countries on Friday, denouncing the burning of the Qur'an.
The ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter, which carried out the protest in Copenhagen, had livestreamed the burning of the Qur'an and flag on Facebook.
The incident sparked outrage in Iraq, leading to the protests in Baghdad overnight.
The protesters clashed with security forces but were ultimately pushed back.
In a statement on Saturday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident and called on the international community to take action against such "atrocities that violate social peace and coexistence around the world." Another protest is scheduled to take place in Baghdad later in the day.
