Iraq’s response to Quran burning ‘harsh’: Swedish MP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region -  A Swedish MP told Rudaw on Tuesday that while burning the Quran is “provocative and intolerant behavior,” the response from the Iraqi government to cut diplomatic ties with Sweden was “harsh” and an incorrect approach. 

Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its charge d’affaires in Stockholm last week after authorities gave the green light for the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag outside Baghdad’s embassy in Sweden. 

Frederik Malm, an MP from the Swedish Liberal People’s Party, told Rudaw’s Alla Shally that burning the Quran constitutes “an act of intolerance, it is deeply destructive, and it is xenophobic,” recalling that the person responsible was not Swedish. 

Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee, set the Islamic holy book alight twice in the past two months, first outside a mosque in Stockholm. Both times, Momika had received permission from Swedish authorities to carry out what he labeled as a protest, with Sweden saying it was in line with freedom of expression. 

Malm acknowledged that while such acts are legal in Sweden, he views them as being “deeply destructive.” However, he labeled the response from the Iraqi government as being “very harsh” by cutting all diplomatic ties and expelling the Swedish ambassador.

“They looked to the other side when thugs and bandits burned down our embassy,” he added, referring to the torching of the Swedish embassy.

Following the second Quran burning incident in Sweden last Thursday, protestors linked to Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. 

The MP argued that the response from the Iraqi government is not in line with international standards, adding that Momika is the “product” of Iraq. “He is not Swedish in his mentality… this is Iraqi politics for him” adding that Iraq should assume its responsibility for Momika’s acts.

“Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis live in Sweden… not the other way,” he said, heralding Sweden’s values of democracy and freedom of speech. 
Sweden gives large amounts of money in aid to Iraq annually, it has trained the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga, as well as providing asylum to Iraqi refugees over the years. “If the Iraqi government is not thankful for that… then okay, we can cut the foreign aid” adding that he hopes it does not reach to this point.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also suspended its mission to Sweden, as it is obliged to follow Baghdad, but he said he believes Stockholm can continue engaging with Erbil as it is a region which is “pragmatic” and has always been a “constructive partner.” 

“The Kurdistan Region has always been open to western values,” he noted. 

Malm expressed hope for the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iraq and Sweden. “I really hope that Sweden and Kurdistan will have a strong and deep diplomatic relation in the future."

“Cutting diplomatic ties will only harm the Iraqis living in Sweden.”