The Iraqi Man Who Burned The Quran Shot Dead in His Stockholm Apartment

Salwan Momika, the Iraqi man who triggered global outrage by burning the Quran in Sweden, was shot dead in his apartment in Södertälje, Stockholm, on Wednesday night.

Swedish police confirmed the 40-year-old was fatally wounded in a suspected shooting at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT). He was taken to the hospital but later died. Authorities arrested five people in connection with the attack.

Salwan Momika, the Iraqi man who burned Quran shot dead in Sweden.
Salwan Momika burning the Quran in Benny Fredrikssons square in Stockholm in August 2023 CC Ander Wiklund

Momika gained international attention in 2023 when he set fire to Islam’s holy book outside Stockholm Central Mosque, sparking violent protests in several Muslim-majority countries. The Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed twice, and Sweden’s ambassador was expelled.

The incident intensified security concerns, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stating that Sweden’s security services were investigating possible foreign involvement.

Momika was due to receive a court verdict on Thursday for charges of “agitation against an ethnic group” related to multiple Quran-burning protests. However, the hearing was postponed following confirmation of his death.

Swedish authorities had granted him permission for his demonstrations under free-speech laws, though the government later sought legal measures to restrict protests involving the burning of religious texts.

The case remains under investigation as Sweden grapples with the broader implications of the killing.

Source: BBC

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