An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden has been killed in a shooting near Stockholm, authorities said Thursday.
In 2023, Salwan Momika, aged 38, was involved in multiple incidents where he publicly burned and disrespected the Quran in Sweden. These actions garnered global attention and sparked outrage and condemnation in various Muslim-majority countries, resulting in widespread riots and disturbances.
The Stockholm District Court had planned to deliver a verdict on Thursday in a legal case that Momika was involved in; however, the proceedings were postponed due to the unexpected death of one of the defendants. Göran Lundahl, a judge at the court, confirmed that the deceased individual was indeed Momika. He stated that the circumstances surrounding Momika’s death were not known at that time.
Salwan Momika speaks in Malmö, Sweden, Sept. 30, 2023. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Authorities received reports of a shooting at an apartment complex in Sodertalje, located near Stockholm, on Wednesday night. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered a man who had sustained gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries.
Broadcaster SVT reported that the victim was Momika.
Prosecutors said five people were arrested overnight on suspicion of murder. They said all were adults but gave no further details.
Prosecutor Rasmus Öman said the investigation is still in its early stages and that the suspects and others still have to be questioned.
Momika came to Sweden from Iraq in 2018 and was granted a three-year residence permit in 2021, according to SVT.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden’s security service was involved because “there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,” Swedish news agency TT reported.
Momika argued that his protests targeted the religion of Islam, not Muslim people. He said he wanted to protect Sweden’s population from the messages of the Quran. Swedish police allowed his demonstrations, citing freedom of speech, while filing charges against him.
Last March, he was arrested in neighboring Norway after stating that he would seek asylum there, and was sent back to Sweden, TT reported.
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.
