Supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr raise copies of the Quran, Muslims' holy book, during a protest in Sadr City, in response to the burning of Quran in Sweden, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Anger in Iraq over Quran burnings in Sweden

Full Episode

Supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr raise copies of the Quran, Muslims’ holy book, during a protest in Sadr City, in response to the burning of Quran in Sweden, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Hadi Mizban/AP

Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad after Stockholm police gave permission to a yet another person to burn the Quran. Relations between Iraq and Sweden are now frayed and some Swedes are beginning to wonder: “When does the legal right to burn a Quran become a hate crime?” And, women in Afghanistan took to the streets this week to protest a Taliban ban on beauty salons. The ban will come into effect in five days, leaving roughly 6,000 women out of work. Also, centenarian statesman Henry Kissinger flew to Beijing for a surprise meeting yesterday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Plus, FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in New Zealand and Australia.

In This Episode

Anger in Iraq over Quran burnings in Stockholm and what constitutes as free speech in Sweden
As Peruvians protest their government, US has little leverage
New mural in San Diego highlights the El Cortito hoe that crippled farm workers
Women providing services within a beauty salon
‘We are dead inside:’ Women in Afghanistan protest Taliban ban of beauty salons
Special Coverage
Price of tomatoes skyrockets in India
‘We will never forget our old friend’
Akureyri is one of the few places in Iceland with forest.
This small Icelandic city thinks big about going green
Special Coverage
Customers nap at Jordan restaurant
FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in New Zealand and Australia
Sam Cutler dies, road manager for the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones