SWEDEN: Salwan Momika, a man notorious for repeatedly burning the Quran in 2023, has been killed in a shooting in Sodertalje, Sweden, as reported by media on Thursday. Momika, an Iraqi Christian, had sparked widespread outrage across the Muslim world with his Quran desecration acts, which were viewed as provocative and offensive.
The incident that led to his death occurred inside a property, and upon police arrival, they found a man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have launched a murder investigation and confirmed that the deceased was Momika. Media reports suggest the shooting might have been broadcast live on social media.
Momika had been involved in multiple Quran-burning incidents in 2023, including one outside a Stockholm mosque, leading to charges of "agitation against an ethnic group." He and his associate, Salwan Najem, faced accusations of inciting ethnic hatred through their actions. The charges stemmed from their public desecrations of the Quran and their derogatory comments about Muslims. These actions led to significant diplomatic tension between Sweden and various Middle Eastern countries, particularly Iraq. In July 2023, Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting fires within the compound during two separate incidents.
A Stockholm court was set to rule on whether Momika was guilty of inciting ethnic hatred but postponed the verdict after his death. The court will now make its decision on February 3, 2025, as additional time is needed following the death. The Swedish government has condemned the desecrations but reaffirmed its commitment to protecting freedom of speech.
