- Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam campaigner, was shot dead in Sweden, hours before a court verdict over burning the Koran.
- Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting.
- Momika’s actions had previously raised Sweden’s terrorism alert to the second-highest level.
- The incident underscores the tension between freedom of speech and respect for religious beliefs.
In a shocking turn of events, Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee and anti-Islam campaigner, was shot dead in Sweden. The incident occurred just hours before he was due to receive a court verdict following a trial over burning the Koran. Swedish police have arrested five individuals in connection with the shooting, which took place late on Wednesday.
Momika was shot in a house in the town of Sodertalje, near Stockholm, according to public broadcaster SVT, which cited unnamed police sources. The police have confirmed the shooting but have not provided further details.
Known for his public demonstrations against Islam, Momika had burned copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, in 2023. His actions had sparked outrage among Muslims and triggered threats from jihadists.
Controversy and Consequences
This led Sweden to raise its terrorism alert to the second-highest level in 2023 and issue warnings of threats against Swedes both at home and abroad. Despite the controversy, the Swedish government initially regarded the Koran burnings as a protected form of free speech. However, it later condemned the wave of Koran burnings in 2023.
Momika was due to be sentenced along with another man on Thursday in a criminal trial over offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group. However, the announcement of the verdict has been postponed. The other defendant, who was giving interviews on Thursday, posted a chilling message on X, saying: I’m next.
The Swedish Security Service has stated that while the police are leading the investigation, they are closely following the development of events to assess their impact on Swedish security.
A Tragic End and Unfolding Investigation
In a chilling twist, Swedish media reported that Momika was streaming live on TikTok at the time he was shot. A video seen by Reuters showed police picking up a phone and ending a livestream that appeared to be from Momika’s TikTok account.
Momika’s presence in Sweden was not without controversy. In 2023, Sweden’s migration agency wanted to deport him for providing false information on his residency application. However, they were unable to do so as he risked torture and inhumane treatment in Iraq.
The act of burning the Koran is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous act because they consider it the literal word of God. This incident brings to mind the historical event of Pastor Terry Jones in Florida, who sparked global outrage in 2010 when he announced plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.