Iran has summoned the Swedish ambassador to protest against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden, the official news agency IRNA reported on Thursday.
Swedish Ambassador in Tehran Mattias Lentz was summoned by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani, who conveyed the Islamic republic's "strong protest" over the sacrilege of the Quran in Sweden, the report said.
"We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden, and we hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world," Kanaani was quoted as saying.
On June 28, a protester burned a copy of the Quran in front of the largest mosque in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, sparking angry reactions from Muslims across the world.
On Thursday, a man trampled on the Quran in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, but decided not to burn it as he had announced. He was harangued by an audience of a few dozen people, most of whom were hostile to his action.
A protestor outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm where he plans to burn a copy of the Quran and the Iraqi flag, July 20, 2023. /CFP
In light of the events, the Iraqi government said on Thursday that it decided to ask the Swedish ambassador to leave Iraq and recall its charge d'affaires from Sweden.
According to an earlier government statement, the Iraqi government has warned the Swedish government on Wednesday night through diplomatic channels that Iraq would sever its diplomatic relations with Sweden if the Quran was burned again on its soil with the permission of the Swedish government under the pretext of freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, Türkiye's Foreign Ministry also condemned an "attack" on Quran in Stockholm on Thursday and urged Sweden to take deterrent measures against such kinds of "hate crimes."
(With input from agencies)