Salwan Momika, Man who burned Quran ‘shot dead in Sweden’
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi man known for his controversial Quran burnings in Sweden, was shot dead at his home in Södertälje on January 30, 2025. His actions had sparked significant global outrage and legal challenges, leading to heightened tensions between Sweden and several Muslim-majority countries.
Born in Qaraqosh, Iraq, Momika was raised in an Assyrian Catholic family and became politically active during Iraq’s civil unrest. He fled Iraq in 2017 after facing threats and sought asylum in Sweden in 2018, where he was granted a temporary residence permit. In 2023, he gained notoriety for staging multiple public demonstrations where he burned copies of the Quran. These acts were framed by him as protests against the religion of Islam rather than against Muslim individuals, claiming they were intended to protect Swedish citizens from perceived dangers posed by the Quran.
On the day of his death, Momika was scheduled to appear in court for a verdict related to charges of incitement against an ethnic or national group stemming from his Quran burnings. His actions had previously led to significant unrest, including riots and diplomatic tensions, particularly after he burned a Quran outside a mosque during a sacred Islamic period.
Momika was shot late Wednesday night, and upon police arrival, he was found with gunshot wounds. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting as authorities launched a homicide investigation. The exact motive behind his murder has not been confirmed, and it remains unclear if it is directly related to his controversial protests.
His death is likely to further inflame tensions surrounding issues of freedom of speech and anti-Islam sentiments in Europe. Many Muslims had previously expressed outrage over Swedish authorities’ handling of Momika’s protests, arguing that they failed to adequately address the incitement caused by his actions. The incident underscores ongoing debates about immigration, integration, and the limits of free expression in multicultural societies.
