Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, made a phone call with his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom.
The Foreign Ministry stated in a statement: “During the call, the threat of the Holy Quran burner to repeat his act tomorrow, Thursday, July 20, 2023, was discussed with another person from Iraq in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm.”
Fouad Hussein pointed out the seriousness of these attitudes, and their recurrence indicates systematic action, and that the Holy Qur’an is deeply rooted in the hearts of more than two billion Muslims around the world.
He called on the Swedish government to prevent the recurrence of these offensive and repeated acts against Islam and the Holy Qur’an, and to confront such provocative acts, which incite violence and fuel hatred, racism and extremism, and which cannot be included within the scope of freedoms.
He stressed the importance of having a firm international stance towards it based on international laws and norms that prevent insulting and attacking religions, holy books and beliefs.
Hussein also affirmed the keenness of the Iraqi government and people on the security and safety of diplomatic missions residing in Baghdad, including the mission of the Kingdom of Sweden, stressing respect for freedom of expression in accordance with constitutional and legal standards and in a way that does not constitute an offense to religions or freedom of belief.
For his part, the Swedish Foreign Minister expressed his country’s condemnation of this act, stressing that the Swedish government strongly rejects such anti-Islamic acts, and that it does not support or condone in any way the anti-Islamic views expressed by the person concerned during this incident, reiterating the commitment of the Swedish government with the protection of the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency