An Iraqi man who made waves in 2023 after staging several Quran burnings was shot dead this week. Salwan Momika was killed during a shootout in Sodertalje — a day before facing the verdict in a case related to the Quran burnings. The Stockholm District Court confirmed the news on Thursday and noted that the verdict had been postponed due to the death of one defendant.
A judge at the court told AP that the deceased had been Momika but indicated that the court did not have any information on when and how he had died. Meanwhile police said that they had been alerted to a shooting on Wednesday night. They had found a man with gunshot wounds after reaching the apartment building and a preliminary murder investigation was opened after he died. Broadcaster SVT reported, without naming sources, that the victim was Momika.
Who was Salwan Momika?
The 38-year-old was an Iraqi Assyrian-Aramean refugee who gained global prominence in 2023 after staging several burnings and desecrations of the Islamic holy book. The move had angered Muslims across the world and sparked riots and unrest in many places.
Swedish authorities had allowed his demonstrations while citing freedom of speech. However his actions raised alarm among government and security officials who warned they could make the country a target for Islamic extremists. Reports indicate that Sweden had subsequently withdrawn his residence permit but put deportation on hold.
Momika came to Sweden from Iraq in 2018 and was granted a three-year residence permit in 2021. He was arrested last March in neighboring Norway — after stating that he would seek asylum there — and was sent back to Sweden. Momika and a co-defendant were charged in August with incitement to hatred because of statements they made in connection with the Quran burnings. A verdict was supposed to be handed down on Thursday morning.
(With inputs from agencies)
