“If freedom of speech is guaranteed to Iraq and the world, then the believers have to express their views on the burning of the holy books… through massive angry protests against the Swedish embassy in Iraq,” said Muqtada al-Sadr.
A superficially clever argument, but destroying property and menacing people is not equivalent to registering one’s disapproval of an ideology.
“Protesters break into Swedish embassy in Baghdad after Stockholm Quran burning,” by Mostafa Salem, CNN, June 29, 2023 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
Demonstrators breached the perimeter of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad Thursday, a day after a protester burned a copy of the Quran in Sweden.
The protests in the Iraqi capital were ordered by the powerful Iraqi Shia cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, who also called for the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad.
Videos circulating on social media showed some protesters climbing over a barricaded wall outside the embassy. It is unclear how far into the building they got, before withdrawing….
An Iraqi security source confirmed to CNN that the incident was over. The AFP news agency reported that the protestors were inside the compound for about 15 minutes.
The protests in Baghdad came after an incident in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Wednesday, when a man burned a copy of Islam’s holy book outside a mosque. Images of the event showed he was the only person apart from his translator at the demonstration, which coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha, one of the most significant in the Islamic calendar.
Al Sadr demanded authorities withdraw the Iraqi nationality of Salwan Momika – the organizer of the one-man Quran protest in Stockholm – who immigrated to left Iraq for Sweden five years ago.
“If freedom of speech is guaranteed to Iraq and the world, then the believers have to express their views on the burning of the holy books… through massive angry protests against the Swedish embassy in Iraq,” Al Sadr said….
somehistory says
No one, nor any property belonging to another, happened when the book of evil filth was consumed by fire.
that was legitimate “freedom ofspeech/expression.”
Breaking into property, trashing the place. threatening people is not “freedom of speech.” those things are crimes.
One’s speech or expression (which can include physical actions, such as burning a flag or book) has to end where the nose of another begins. Saying someone is a jerk, is not the same as punching that one in the nose as the “jerk” word is uttered.
mozlums’ know this; they just choose to ignore it as they claim special privileges. They scream and yell all day every day about killing others, eliminating others, and they engage in physical actions to accompany the words. They then protest when others want to have a say, and they protest with violence.
Why does Sweden bother with having an embassy in iraq?
somehistory says
Error in my first sentence: No one was injured nor any property belonging to another was destroyed….
Distracted while writing. Too many fireworks being exploded outside.
maria says
the former Swedish government was antisemitic and leftist (the ex PM was a son of two Swedish nazis)
The new government does its best to improve Sweden , stop the “migrants” from muslim countries and deport as many as possible from Sweden.
Bexarkat says
I’ll be the Iraqi cops assigned to security of the embassy high-tailed it to parts unknown as soon as the crowd approached.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I’m pretty sure that Salwan Momika is soaking his pillow in his tears at the thought of losing his Iraqi nationality for good 😈
Michael Copeland says
Memo to Iraqi authorities:
Under freedom of speech everyone has the right to be insulted.