Iran-Backed Militias In Iraq Incite Against Sweden, U.S. Over Quran Burning In Stockholm, Call On Iranian Leader To Issue Death Fatwa Against Demonstrator

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On July 20, 2023, reports surfaced online that Swedish police had granted permission for Salwan Momika, an Iraqi asylum seeker living in Sweden, to burn the Quran and the Iraqi flag outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Momika also announced on Tiktok prior to the planned demonstration that he intended to burn photos of Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr and Iranian Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[1] Momika previously burned the Quran on June 28, sparking global outrage and condemnation.[2]

In response to the planned demonstration, Iraqi protesters, many of whom are supporters of Al-Sadr, stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, setting a small fire on the compound. The Iraqi Government – while announcing that the perpetrators of the Embassy storming would be held accountable – expelled the Swedish Ambassador to Baghdad and informed the Swedish Government that "any recurrence of the incident involving the burning of the Holy Quran on Swedish soil would necessitate severing diplomatic relations."[3] Baghdad also withdrew the Iraqi Charge d'Affairs from Stockholm.[4]

Iran-backed militias in Iraq reacted in harsh terms to the planned demonstration via affiliate Telegram channels. The below report compiles selected reactions to the incident by militia leaders and affiliated Telegram channels, including attempts to incite violence against Westerners, calls for Momika's assassination, and criticism of the Swedish and U.S. Embassies in Baghdad.

#Prepare_to_Burn_the_Swedish_Embassy

Prior to Momika's demonstration, a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran-backed militias called on Iraqis to prepare to burn the Swedish Embassy.[5]

The channel shared a July 19 statement by Momika, in which he first announced his intent to burn the Quran and Iraqi flag. Commenting, the channel wrote: "Sweden has again granted permission for the one called Salwan [Momika] to burn the Holy Quran and the Iraqi flag tomorrow in front of the Iraqi Embassy. There are popular calls to expel the Swedish Ambassador from Baghdad and Arab and Islamic capitals in a show of unity. #Prepare_to_burn_the_Swedish_Embassy."

Ashab Al-Kahf: "Global Jewish Home" Orchestrates Quran Burnings; "Search Out And Kill The Jews Wherever You Find Them"

Ashab Al-Kahf released a statement accusing the "global Jewish home" (i.e. Israel) of orchestrating acts of desecrating the Quran, instructing group fighters to "search out and kill the Jews wherever you find them."[6]

The statement read in part: "We in the Islamic Resistance, Ashab Al-Kahf, will perform our legitimate duty and we are concerned about nothing but the Lord. Oh kahfiyun, search out all Swedish interests and destroy them. Oh kahfiyun, search out every Swede for he is an Israeli Jew using the cover of Sweden. Indeed, everything occurring was planned and orchestrated by the global Jewish home. The Jews are our enemies, so search them out and kill them wherever you find them."

In a second post, which was released after the Swedish Embassy was evacuated, Ashab Al-Kahf also claimed that the "staff of the Swedish Embassy are now in the spy den of evil, the American Embassy."[7]

Al-Nujaba' Movement: Swedish Embassy Should Be Turned Into Research Institute For Islamic Studies And Quran

The Al-Nujaba' Movement released a statement praising the Iraqi Government's decision to "sever relations with the Swedish Government" because of the Quran burning and called on Arab and Islamic countries to follow suit. Additionally, it demanded that the Swedish Embassy in Iraq be converted into a "center for research and studies in Quranic sciences and [a center] for spreading awareness and Islamic culture."[8]

Hizbullah Brigades: "Hostile American Approach Against Everything Sacred" Encourages Quran Burnings

The Hizbullah Brigades also released a statement blaming the U.S. for enabling Sweden to allow demonstrations involving burning the Quran. It read: "The Swedish authorities have stubbornly continued to commit the crime of burning the Holy Book of Allah, which would not have recurred were it not for the hostile American approach taken against everything sacred that preserves human dignity."[9]

Al-Khazali Calls For "Complete Boycott Of Sweden"

Qais Al-Khazali, the Secretary-General of Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haqq, released a statement in support of the Iraqi Government's decision to expel the Swedish Ambassador and "close the embassy in Baghdad." Al-Khazali also expressed support for a "complete boycott of Sweden" and called for Islamic governments and organizations to convene "urgent meetings" aimed at issuing a collective response to the Quran burning which will go beyond statements of condemnation.

Sayyed Al-Shuhada' Commander Supports Iraqi Government's Measures Against Sweden

Abu Alaa Al-Walai', the leader of the Sayyed Al-Shuhada' Brigades, also released a statement on Twitter supporting the Iraqi Government's response, including the severing of diplomatic relations with Sweden. Al-Walai' lamented the Swedish Government's "intellectual disability," expressed in its "spewing the poison of its hatred disguised as false slogans of freedom."[10]

Rampant Anti-U.S. Sentiment At Demonstrations

As Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy, Sabereen News, an influential media outlet on Telegram affiliated with Iran-backed militias, posted a photo of the incident, writing in English: "Protestors from Alsadr movement stormed and burned the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, this is happened after sweden government gives permission again to burn the Qur'an and the flags of Iraq."[11]

Later, Sabereen News and other Iran-backed militia Telegram channel posted additional photos and videos of demonstrations, expressed anti-U.S. sentiment, and incited violence against the U.S. and Swedish Embassies. For example, the channel released a video showing Iraqi demonstrators chanting slogans against "American occupation" as they march through the streets of Baghdad.[12]

Separately, another channel claimed that there are "popular calls" for bombing the American Embassy because of its supposed support for the Quran burning, and for its providing protection to the staff of the Swedish Embassy."[13] The channel also released a poster showing a fighter waving a banner calling for the "revenge of Imam Hussein" while U.S. and Swedish flags burned in the background. "Today is our date," the channel captioned the poster.

Such anti-U.S. sentiment also comes a day after the U.S. Treasury blacklisted 14 Iraqi banks, preventing them from conducting transactions in U.S. dollars as part of its campaign against dollar smuggling into Iran.[14]

Another militia-affiliated Telegram channel posted a photo of a man in a vehicle brandishing a grenade.[15]

Calls For Death Fatwa Against Momika, Similar To Salman Rushdie

A media outlet on Telegram affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq called for Iranian Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to issue a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Salwan Momika. The post read: "After the continuous aggression against the Holy Book of Allah, we are longing for a similar fatwa by Imam Khomeini, who issued a fatwa against the infidel Salman Rushdie. 'Salman Rushdie, even if he repented and became an ascetic of his time, still- every Muslim must mobilize his soul and his money to send him to Hell.'"[16]