The 38-year-old man who sparked international outrage by burning the holy Quran in Sweden in 2023 was shot dead in his apartment building in Sodertalje, south of Stockholm, authorities confirmed Thursday. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with his killing.
Prosecutor Rasmus Oman stated that an investigation into Salwan Momika’s murder is in its early stages, with authorities focusing on gathering information about the case.
Momika, a Christian Iraqi, was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a ruling on charges of inciting ethnic hatred due to his Quran desecrations. However, the court postponed its decision to February 3 following his death.
Police responded to a shooting late Wednesday and found Momika with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital but later died. Reports suggest the attack may have been streamed live on social media, and Swedish media outlet Aftonbladet indicated that the suspect may have accessed the building through the roof.
Momika, along with fellow protester Salwan Najem, had faced multiple charges for burning and desecrating the holy Quran outside mosques in Stockholm in 2023. Their actions led to diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries, with Iraqi protesters storming the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice.
Due to the Quran burnings, Sweden’s intelligence service heightened its terror threat level in August 2023, warning that the country had become a high-priority target. While the Swedish government condemned the acts, it maintained that freedom of speech laws protected public demonstrations.
Momika, who arrived in Sweden in 2018, had his residency permit revoked in 2023 over false claims in his original application, though deportation to Iraq was halted due to legal barriers. In early 2024, he sought asylum in Norway, but Norwegian authorities deported him back to Sweden weeks later.
His killing adds to the growing security concerns in Sweden, which has faced threats linked to Quran desecrations and heightened tensions with Muslim-majority nations. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
