Iranian Regime's Protests Against Quran Burning Intensify

Reactions by Iranian officials have intensified following acts of Quran burning in Europe, more than three weeks after a man set fire to the Muslim holy book in Sweden.

While Iran lodged diplomatic protests to Sweden shortly after the incident in late June, street protests and repeated statements threatening reprisals did not occur until this week. The same can be said about other Muslim governments and countries.

Reportedly, one more incident of Quran desecration occurred July 20 in Sweden, and Iran's ruler Ali Khamenei reacted to all these incidents Saturday, by demanding harsh punishment for the perpetrators. He said that Sweden should hand over the individuals involved to a Muslim country. In case of some Muslim states, the punishment would be execution.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Naser Kanaani issued yet another statement earlier Saturday, this time attacking Denmark for a Quran burning incident that happened in January. Tehran had already condemned it months ago, but for some unknown reason it decided to re-introduce the case.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran continuing its contacts and discussions with Muslim countries, will persist in its actions to confront this ignorance in the 21st century, which occurs under the protection of false Western freedom of speech…,” Kanaani was quoted as saying by IRGC’s Tasnim news website.

Sweden’s foreign minister Tobias Billström held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign ministry reported Friday. Billström said that the Swedish government condemns the Quran burning but could not refuse a permit to citizens for street protests.

Nevertheless, the Speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also used his pulpit during a session Saturday to warn that disrespecting the Quran “will not be without cost.” Several hardliner lawmakers were quoted by the semi-official ISNA website also making similar statements.

Alireza Salimi, a hardline lawmaker said, “Sweden should expect a hard response,” as others dismissed the Swedish government’s argument that courts protect freedom of speech and it cannot stop people from burning books.

For hardliner Iranian politicians facing public anger over a 70-percent inflation rate and economic chaos, attacking Sweden at least would enhance their reputation as “revolutionary” figures within the regime. The people in general are not focused on such issues as they struggle in their daily lives with high prices and repressive government measures, such as a renewed crackdown on women ofr not wearing hijab.

Kanani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had personally summoned the Swedish ambassador July 20 for the second time and conveyed "the strong protest of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

"We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran and Islamic holy things in Sweden, and we hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world," said Kanani.

The incident involved Salwan Momika, an Iraqi immigrant, who burned the Quran in front of the central mosque in Stockholm on the first day of Eid al-Adha, after obtaining a permit from the Swedish government.

It seems that renewed protests by the Islamic Republic and other Muslim governments and groups intensified after the Shiite followers of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr began protests in Baghdad this week and ransacked the Swedish embassy. Sadr is not an ally of Tehran, but the action of his group might have triggered a race to show who is tougher on Sweden and other European countries who would permit acts of Quran desecration.

The first street protest in Iran took place on Friday, and its ally the Lebanese Hezbollah also organized protests in Beirut, while rallies in countries such as Pakistan took place much earlier this month. Preachers and speakers, however, blamed the United Kingdom and the United States for Quran desecration in Sweden.