Man Involved in Quran Burnings Killed in Sweden

Iraqi Man Involved in Quran Burnings Killed in Sweden Ahead of Court Verdict

Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee known for staging multiple Quran burnings in 2023, was shot and killed in a shootout in Sodertalje, Sweden, just one day before a court was set to deliver a verdict in a case related to his controversial actions. The Stockholm District Court confirmed his death on Thursday and announced that the verdict had been postponed due to the death of one of the defendants.

A judge at the court informed the Associated Press that Momika was the deceased but clarified that the court had no details about the circumstances or timing of his death. Swedish police reported that they were alerted to a shooting on Wednesday night and discovered a man with gunshot wounds at an apartment building. The victim later died, prompting the opening of a preliminary murder investigation. Swedish broadcaster SVT, citing unnamed sources, identified the victim as Momika.

Who Was Salwan Momika?

Momika, an Assyrian-Aramean refugee from Iraq, gained international notoriety in 2023 for organizing several public burnings and desecrations of the Quran, the Islamic holy book. His actions sparked outrage among Muslims worldwide, leading to riots and unrest in multiple countries.

While Swedish authorities permitted his demonstrations under the principle of freedom of speech, his actions alarmed government and security officials, who warned that such provocations could make Sweden a target for Islamic extremists. Reports suggest that Sweden had revoked Momika’s residence permit but delayed his deportation.

Momika arrived in Sweden from Iraq in 2018 and was granted a three-year residence permit in 2021. In March 2023, he was arrested in neighboring Norway after expressing his intention to seek asylum there and was subsequently returned to Sweden. Alongside a co-defendant, Momika was charged in August with incitement to hatred for statements made in connection with the Quran burnings. The verdict in the case was originally scheduled to be announced on Thursday morning but has now been postponed following his death.

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