Salwan Momika, the Iraqi man who gained international attention for burning the Quran in Sweden, has reportedly been fatally shot. His death comes just as the Stockholm district court was set to deliver a verdict on a case in which he was a defendant. The court has now postponed the decision, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, the Hindustan Times Reports.
Swedish state media confirmed on Thursday that Salwan Momika died from gunshot wounds after being found at his residence in Hovsjo, Sodertalje, late Wednesday night.
In 2023, 38-year-old Salwan Momika orchestrated several Quran burnings and acts of desecration in Sweden. His controversial actions attracted widespread international attention, simmering anger in numerous Muslim-majority countries and leading to riots and significant unrest.
In 2023, the Swedish Migration Agency decided to expel Salwan Momika from the country. However, due to threats against his life in Iraq, the expulsion was postponed, and he was instead granted a new temporary residence permit, valid until April 2024.
Momika had argued in court that his protests were directed at the religion of Islam, not at Muslims themselves. He claimed that his actions were intended to shield the people of Sweden from the messages he believed were conveyed in the Quran.
The Swedish police permitted Momika’s protests, citing freedom of speech as the basis for their decision. However, despite this, charges were still filed against him.
As reported by India Today, in a previous video, Salwan Momika referred to himself as the leader of a Christian militia. He claimed that his group was affiliated with the Imam Ali Brigades, a militia formed in 2014 and accused of committing war crimes, according to France24.
