Several regions venue of demonstrations against desecration of Quran
3 Min Read
Protesters take to the streets in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen to denounce the desecration of the Holy Quran.
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Iraqi protesters raise the Holy Quran during a demonstration outside the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq (AP)
Massive demonstrations were held in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen as protesters denounced the desecration of the Holy Quran in Stockholm, Sweden.
In the Southern Suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, sit-ins were organized outside mosques after the Friday prayers as protesters held copies of the Holy Quran and expressed their readiness to protect it.
Additionally, Lebanese protesters carried banners demanding the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities have also tightened security measures around the Swedish embassy.
Read more: Nasrallah calls for protests against Quran desecration in Sweden
This comes after Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on the people to organize protests and sit-ins in all mosques while brandishing copies of the Quran to call on their states to take a stance against the Swedish government.
"All Arab and Islamic countries must do what Iraq did if we want the desecration of the Holy Quran to not be repeated," he added.
"What is required of the Arab and Islamic peoples is to put pressure on their countries to expel the Swedish ambassadors from their countries, and to recall their ambassadors from Sweden."
The desecration of the Holy #Quran in #Sweden sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across the country and beyond.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 21, 2023
The recent incident, seen as a grave disrespect to the religious sentiments of millions of #Muslims around the world, triggered protests and calls for swift… pic.twitter.com/dcPiR1z2gJ
On its part, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, "Sweden once again allowing the desecration of the Holy Quran constitutes a continuous violation of Muslims' sentiments and dignity."
The statement added, "We call on Sweden to take measures to put an end to whatever could deepen feelings of hatred and Islamophobia and desecrate religions."
"الاستعداد لانطلاق الاحتجاجات على الإساءة إلى #المصحف_الشريف في قرى الجنوب اللبناني ومدنه"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 21, 2023
مراسل #الميادين جمال الغربي@JamalGhorabi pic.twitter.com/oDhAz4w6Tu
Protests in Iran
In Iran, thousands gathered in Tehran protesting the Swedish government's consecutive decisions to allow the burning and desecration of the Holy Quran.
Protesters in Tehran chanted against the United States and "Israel", accusing them of being behind such provocative acts and asserting that European countries lacked the courage to protect Islamic sanctities. Participants in the demonstrations in Iran also called on other Islamic countries to reconsider their diplomatic relations with Sweden.
"المتظاهرون في #طهران يطلقون شعارات وهتافات ضد لـ #الولايات_المتحدة و"إسرائيل" لأنهما تقفان وراء هذه الأعمال التحريضية"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 21, 2023
مراسل #الميادين سياويش فلاح بور pic.twitter.com/GwGfT0T3og
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Swedish ambassador and warned him against the potential repercussions of allowing further assaults on the sacred book of Muslims.
Protests in Iraq
In Iraq, protesters gathered in the city of Diwaniyah, south of the country, and in the capital Baghdad.
Protesters were heard chanting, "Yes to the Quran, yes to Iraq," demanding stronger measures against Sweden.
Others earlier stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy after its staff members were transferred out of Baghdad. The embassy also announced that it has relocated its work to Stockholm after the Iraqi government decided to expel the ambassador.
تظاهرات في #العراق تنديداً بتدنيس #المصحف_الشريف في #السويد pic.twitter.com/wOmDQLARfI
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 21, 2023
Protests in Yemen
In the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, massive demonstrations were held as citizens responded to Sayyed Nasrallah's call to protest, Al Mayadeen's Yemen Bureau chief said.
The protesters strongly criticized the Swedish government for allowing extremists to repeat the burning of copies of the Holy Quran, viewing it as an act of war against Islam and Muslims.
Statements from the protesters called for boycotting Swedish, American, and Israeli goods in response to this grave violation of Islamic sanctities and urged the people of the Islamic nation to engage in massive protests to defend their religion.
كيف هي أجواء الوقفة الاحتجاجية في العاصمة اليمنية #صنعاء تنديداً بجريمة العدوان على المصحف الشريف في #السويد؟
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 21, 2023
مدير مكتب #الميادين في #اليمن أحمد عبد الرحمن#المصحف_الشريف pic.twitter.com/u7I0mBQul2
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
