During Friday, the protests against Sweden continued in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Also in Iran and Lebanon, hundreds of people took to the streets to protest against the recent Koran burnings, reports France 24.
Later in the evening, Iran’s foreign minister also announced that they will not allow Sweden’s incoming ambassador into the country, AFP reports.
After the Friday prayer, hundreds of people took to the streets of the Iraqi capital Baghdad to chant “yes, yes to Islam, yes, yes to the Koran”. One of the demonstrators on the spot, whom AFP spoke to, says that they “demand more” and that it is not enough that the country sent the Swedish ambassador home.
Other Muslim countries have also demanded that countries in the West introduce bans on Koran burnings, as well as desecration of other holy scriptures.
Protests in Iran
During Friday, protests also broke out in the Iranian capital, Tehran, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered to wave the Iranian flag.
Among other things, the demonstrators are said to have shouted “down with the USA, Great Britain, Israel and Sweden”, while some of them set fire to the Swedish flag.
During the evening, it was also announced that they will not accept the new Swedish ambassador until the Swedish government has taken measures regarding the Koran burnings.
– The Swedish ambassador’s term in Tehran has ended and, according to the president’s order, we will not accept the new Swedish ambassador until the Swedish government takes measures regarding the desecration of the Holy Koran, said Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to state Iranian television, according to AFP.
Iraq: Ericsson is allowed to operate in the country
During the day, the Iraqi prime minister’s foreign affairs advisor, Farhad Alaadin, also announced that Iraq will not withdraw the Swedish telecom giant Ericsson’s permit to operate in the country, reports Reuters.
Alaadin also states that all agreements made with the Iraqi government will be respected.