Massive protests erupted in Baghdad and several Iraqi cities against the assault on the Holy Quran, amidst heightened security measures by Iraqi security forces to prevent serious incidents. The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Yahya Rasoul, announced today, Saturday, the implementation of measures to protect all diplomatic missions operating in Iraq, affirming that the government and armed forces are committed to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
General Rasoul stated to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the duty of the security forces, under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, is to secure and protect all diplomatic missions," stressing that "the Iraqi armed forces have taken all necessary measures to protect all diplomatic missions operating in Iraq, in line with the Vienna Convention, to which Iraq is committed as a government and armed forces." He added that "the Iraqi forces are present and committed to the law and the Iraqi constitution to protect all public and private property and diplomatic missions present on Iraqi soil."
He continued, "Freedom of expression is a natural freedom according to the Iraqi constitution, and we respect freedom of expression within legal frameworks. This is emphasized by the military leadership and the Iraqi government, but we will not allow violations of public and private properties, including diplomatic missions."
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an emergency meeting regarding the insult to the Quran. The ministry stated that "in response to the request submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for the second time, following what happened in the Kingdom of Sweden and then in Denmark, regarding the insult to the Quran and the contempt of sacred values that provoke the feelings of nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, an emergency meeting will be held for the foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss and formulate the most important collective actions and positions of member countries on this matter."
The minister highlighted that "the systematic approach that the ministry will adhere to during the planned meeting aims to address actions that insult the Quran and sacred values of Muslims and establish collective mechanisms to confront the phenomenon of Islamophobia, in the context of national and international decisions."
It pointed out that "provocative and heinous practices against Islamic sanctities are fueled by laws that permit such actions under the guise of freedom of expression and the right to protest, which rekindles hatred and extremism, threatens social peace and security, and brings human societies back to the memory of violence."
The ministry urged the international community to "be aware of its moral and civilizational commitments responsibly and equitably in accordance with international resolutions that condemn racism and anti-Semitism and their followers worldwide. All religions and races should be respected collectively, and legal actions should be taken against practices that insult their symbols and followers, in a manner that prevents these resolutions and international instruments from being used as references for discrimination based on religion, belief, or race."
It called on all parties to "be active and without discrimination towards social peace and security around the world, which is a call to reject extremism and contain 'toxic' ideas and practices."
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid called on Western governments and organizations to stop incitement practices and the spread of hatred. He said in a statement: "While we condemn the heinous assaults on the Holy Quran and the provocation of Muslim sentiments, we call on international organizations and Western governments to stop incitement practices and spreading hatred, regardless of the justifications."
He added: "We also call on our esteemed citizens, political forces, and religious and social entities to be cautious and not to fall into the schemes of strife executed by vengeful and angry figures residing in Western countries who exploit their laws to carry out dubious agendas against Iraq and Iraqis."
The Iraqi president noted that "the sequence of events indicates a deliberate intent to provoke Iraqis specifically and portray our country as unsafe for foreign missions, pushing towards diplomatic actions that will harm Iraqis both domestically and abroad who have been compelled by circumstances to emigrate and seek refuge in countries witnessing provocations today."
He continued: "It is the right of citizens and political forces in Iraq to express their anger and condemnation of any assault or violation of their beliefs, provided that it does not harm our state and people and deprives our citizens abroad of diplomatic services and communication with their homeland. Therefore, I urge all my sons and brothers Iraqis to thwart the opportunities of malicious and opportunistic parties that fabricate crises abroad, seeking to distort the image of stable and secure Iraq and harm its international reputation while hindering its cooperation with other countries, and to adhere to peaceful and legal means in expressing their positions."
