Iraq has kicked out the Swedish ambassador and recalled its envoy from Stockholm in protest over the European country’s ongoing approval for the desecration of Islam’s holy book the Qur’an.

The office of Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani says the decision was prompted by the burning of the Qur’an, insulting Islamic sanctities and setting alight the Iraqi flag. Baghdad has warned the Swedish government that any recurrence of these acts of sacrilege will necessitate the severing of ties.

Iraq’s state news agency has reported that the Arab country has suspended the working permit of Sweden’s Ericsson on Iraqi soil.

Earlier, hundreds of Iraqis stormed the Swedish embassy in the capital and set part of it alight.

Anti-Islam protesters, one of whom is an Iraqi immigrant in Sweden burnt the Qur’an outside a Stockholm Mosque last month. Approval was also given for Islam’s holy book to be desecrated for a second time. Sweden has been allowing these acts of sacrilege under the guise of freedom of expression.