Man Linked to Koran Burnings Shot Dead in Sweden
A man at the center of multiple Koran-burning incidents in Sweden in 2023 was shot and killed in a town south of Stockholm, authorities confirmed on Thursday. Five individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the case.
Prosecutor Rasmus Oman stated that an official investigation has been launched into the murder of 38-year-old Salwan Momika.
“We are still in the early stages of the investigation, gathering as much information as possible. Five people have been detained on suspicion of involvement,” he told AFP.
Momika, an Iraqi Christian, had been awaiting a court ruling on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. However, due to his death, the decision—which was scheduled for Thursday—has been postponed until February 3.
Shooting Incident in Sodertalje
Authorities responded late Wednesday to reports of gunfire in an apartment building in Sodertalje, where Momika resided. Upon arrival, they found a man with gunshot wounds, who was transported to a hospital but later died.
Reports from Swedish media suggested that the attack may have been streamed live on social media. According to Aftonbladet, the assailant possibly gained access to the building through the roof.
Momika’s Past and Legal Troubles
In 2023, Momika and another protester, Salwan Najem, were charged with “agitation against an ethnic group” after desecrating copies of the Koran on multiple occasions, including an incident outside a Stockholm mosque.
These acts led to heightened tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations. In response to the protests, demonstrators in Iraq stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July 2023, setting parts of the compound on fire during the second incident.
Following these events, Sweden’s intelligence agency, Sapo, raised the national threat level to four out of five, citing an increased security risk.
While the Swedish government condemned the desecration of religious texts, it also emphasized the country’s laws protecting free speech and public assembly.
Struggles with Residency and Asylum
Momika had been living in Sweden since 2018. However, in October 2023, the Swedish Migration Agency revoked his residency permit after discovering inconsistencies in his application. Despite this, he was temporarily allowed to stay due to legal barriers preventing deportation to Iraq.
At the same time, Iraq formally requested his extradition over one of the Koran-burning incidents.
In March 2024, Momika left Sweden and applied for asylum in Norway, claiming that Sweden’s commitment to free speech and human rights was “a big lie.” Norwegian authorities later deported him back to Sweden.
A Controversial Past
Before moving to Sweden, Momika was involved in various political and military activities in Iraq. His social media history revealed ties to a Christian armed group during conflicts with ISIS, efforts to establish a Syriac political party, and disputes with powerful Christian paramilitary leaders.
He was also active in Iraq’s anti-corruption protests in 2019, which saw a brutal crackdown that left over 600 people dead.
Legal Precedents in Sweden
In a separate case, a Swedish court convicted another individual in 2023 for inciting ethnic hatred after burning a Koran in 2020. It was the first time Sweden’s legal system had ruled against someone for desecrating the Islamic holy book.
Swedish prosecutors have previously stated that while religious criticism is protected under free speech laws, actions that promote hostility toward a specific ethnic or religious group may be considered a crime.