Explorer

Salwan Momika, Iraqi Man Who Burned Quran In 2023, Shot Dead In Sweden

Salwan Momika and one other Salwan Najem were charged in August with "agitation against an ethnic group" on four occasions in the summer of 2023.

Salwan Momika, the 38-year-old Iraqi man, who sparked violent protests after burning the Quran has reportedly been shot dead in Sweden.

He is said to have been killed on Wednesday evening in an apartment in Hovsjo in Södertälje, Stockholm, BBC reported citing local media reports.

In a statement, Stockholm police said that five people had been arrested after a man in his 40s was shot dead overnight.

In 2023, Momika sparked massive unrest after he set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book outside Stockholm Central Mosque. This reportedly sparked riots in several Muslim nations as people were outraged by his actions. 

Momika and one other Salwan Najem were charged in August with "agitation against an ethnic group" on four occasions in the summer of 2023. The duo were charged for desecrating the Quran, including burning it, and making derogatory remarks about Muslims, once outside a mosque in Stockholm, AFP reported. 

The verdict for this was due to be delivered on Thursday, but was postponed after it was "confirmed that one of the defendants had died", the Stockholm District Court said.

He had also carried out a series of anti-Islam protests, arguing that his agitation was against the religion and not Muslims. He said he wanted to protect Sweden from the messages in the Quran. He was allowed to protest by the Swedish government due to freedom of speech laws, but was still charged.

After he burnt the holy book during the protests, the Swedish government later pledged to explore legal means of abolishing demonstrations which involve burning texts, condemning the desecrations.

Due to Momika's protests in Sweden, the relations between Sweden and the Middle East countries were hit. Unrest broke out twice at the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, with Iraqi protesters firing within the compounds on the second occasion. The Swedish ambassador was also expelled from the city amid a diplomatic row.

In 2023, the Swedish Migration Agency had decided to expel Monika from the country, but due to death threats against him in his country, the expulsoon was not carried out. He was then granted a new temporary residence permit which was valid until April 2024.

 

 

View More
Advertisement
IOI
Don't Miss Out
34
Hours
26
Minutes
12
Seconds
Advertisement
Wed Feb 19, 11:03 pm
connaught place
16.7°
Precipitation: 0 mm    Humidity: 88%   Wind: NNW 5.3 km/h
See Today's Weather
Powered By:
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

What Did PM Modi Say When Trump Proposed Reciprocal Tariffs Against India? Hear It From The US President
What Did PM Modi Say When US President Trump Proposed Reciprocal Tariffs Against India?
'Why Tickets Sold Exceeded Limit': Delhi HC Comes Down Heavily At Railways Over Delhi Stampede
'Why Tickets Sold Exceeded Limit': Delhi HC Comes Down Heavily At Railways Over Delhi Stampede
iPhone 16e With 48-Megapixel Camera, A18 Chip Launched: Check Out Price, Detailed Specifications
iPhone 16e With 48-Megapixel Camera, A18 Chip Launched: Check Out Price, Detailed Specifications
Karnataka Lokayukta Gives Clean Chit To Siddaramaiah, His Wife As 'No Evidence Found' In MUDA Case
Karnataka Lokayukta Gives Clean Chit To Siddaramaiah, His Wife As 'No Evidence Found' In MUDA Case
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Breaking News: Delhi CM Race Intensifies as BJP Preps for Oath-Taking with Tight Security | ABP NEWSDelhi CM Race: BJP May Pick Purvanchali Leader, Final Decision in Today’s MeetingDelhi CM Race: Preference for RSS-Backed Leader, Ashish Sood Leading ContenderBreaking News: BJP to Honor Delhi's Slum Leaders at Oath-Taking Ceremony After Historic Win | ABP NEWS

Photo Gallery

Embed widget

We use cookies to improve your experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content. By clicking "Allow All Cookies", you agree to our use of cookies.