Hundreds of protesters entered Baghdad's Green Zone Saturday following the burning of a Qur'an in front of Iraq's embassy in Denmark.

The Green Zone is the protected military area in Iraq that includes several embassies, including Denmark's.

Muslim Protesters Storm Baghdad’s Green Zone After Denmark Qur’an Burninghttps://t.co/LU7OVIjy3W

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 22, 2023

The situation

"They were pushed back by security forces, who blocked the Jumhuriya bridge leading to the Green Zone, preventing them from reaching the Danish Embassy," Breitbart News reported.

"The protest came two days after people angered by the planned burning of the Islamic holy book in Sweden stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Protesters occupied the diplomatic post for several hours, waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and setting a small fire. The embassy staff had been evacuated a day earlier," it added.

Iraqis protest over Koran desecration; Iran condemns Sweden https://t.co/NgpMxrOVip pic.twitter.com/iScXEGzOyb

— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 22, 2023

The concern

"Many Muslim states have protested at insults to the Koran this week in protests in Sweden and Denmark, which both allow the book's burning under legal protections for freedom of speech," Reuters reported.

"Protesters gathered in Baghdad amid heavy security measures, with bridges leading to the Green Zone that houses many foreign embassies shut after an attempt by demonstrators to get to the Danish Embassy in the early hours of Saturday," it added.

"It is a disgraceful act to insult the religion of others... It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division” https://t.co/MsUrRMCeUj

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 22, 2023

Iran's reacts

"Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that people who burned the Quran deserved the 'most severe punishment' and demanded Sweden hand over perpetrators to 'the judicial systems of Islamic countries,'" Middle East Eye reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: "Iran believes that the Danish government is responsible for preventing insults to the Holy Quran and Islamic sanctities, as well as prosecuting and punishing those committing the insults."

The concerning upheaval in Baghdad follows an already concerning week of protests in multiple nations over the public Qur'an burning plans.

Burnings planned in both Sweden and Denmark led to an outcry from Muslim leaders worldwide against the action, calling for European leaders to stop or punish any attempts.

The actions have now spread to uprisings in Iraq as many Muslims take to the streets in response to being offended over the matter.