KRG suspends its mission in Sweden over Quran burning

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Thursday condemned the “desecration” of the Quran in Stockholm and suspended its mission in Sweden after the Iraqi government called its charge d’affaires home.

Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, on Thursday afternoon stomped on the Islamic holy book and the Iraqi flag in front of Baghdad’s embassy in Stockholm. This was his second protest. Last month, he burned a copy of the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque. 

In protest over Sweden allowing Momika to carry out his demonstrations, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered the withdrawal of Iraq’s charge d’affaires from Stockholm and expelled Sweden’s ambassador. 

KRG's Department of Foreign Relations subsequently said in a statement it condemns the "desecration" of the Quran in Stockholm and was also suspending its mission in Sweden.  

As per the Iraqi constitution, the Region must follow the federal government’s foreign policy.