Updated 14:57 IST, January 30th 2025

BREAKING: Salwan Momika, Man Who Burnt Quran in 2023, Sparking Protests, Shot Dead in Sweden

Momika, 38, staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam's holy book in Sweden in 2023

Reported by: Digital Desk
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Salwan Momika, Man Who Burned Quran in 2023 Shot Dead in Sweden
Salwan Momika, 38, was an Iraqi activist who staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam's holy book in Sweden in 2023. | Image: AP

Stockholm: Salwan Momika, Iraqi man who burnt the Quran in Sweden in 2023 and sparked protests and criticisms from Muslim countries was shot dead in Stockholm on Thursday. Swedish media reported that Salwan Momika was killed in a shooting in a nearby city. Momika, 38, staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam's holy book in Sweden in 2023. Videos of the Quran burnings got worldwide publicity and raised anger and criticism in several Muslim nations, leading to riots and unrest in many places.

The Stockholm District Court said a verdict scheduled Thursday in a trial in which Momika was a defendant was postponed because one of the defendants had died. A judge at the court, Göran Lundahl, confirmed that the deceased was Momika. He said he didn't have any information on when and how Momika died.

What The Police Said On Salwan Momika Killing

Police said they were alerted to a shooting Wednesday night in Sodertalje, near Stockholm, and found a man with gunshot wounds. He later died, and a preliminary murder investigation was opened.

Broadcaster SVT reported, without naming sources, that the victim was Momika. It said Momika came to Sweden from Iraq in 2018 and was granted a three-year residence permit in 2021.

Prosecutor Rasmus Öman told Swedish news agency TT that several people had been arrested in the case. He did not elaborate.

Momika argued that his protests targeted the religion of Islam, not Muslim people. He argued that he wanted to protect Sweden’s population from the messages of the Quran. Swedish police allowed his demonstrations, citing freedom of speech, while filing charges against him.

Momika and a co-defendant were charged in the Stockholm court with incitement to racial hatred because of statements they made in connection with the Quran burnings. A verdict was supposed to be handed down on Thursday morning.

Who Was Salwan Momika?

Salwan Sabah Matthew Momika was an Iraqi activist known for arranging public demonstrations against Islam, including one incident where he burnt and desecrated the Quran.

Born on June 23, 1986, Momika was born in the Iraqi province of Nineveh.

In 2023, Momika organised a series of protests against Islam. During his demonstrations, he posted several videos of him burning the Quran aiming to maximise the attention.

During these protests, he desecrated and burned copies of the Quran, with both police protection and legal authorisation. These actions sparked a wave of backlash and attacks against Momika, as per media reports. 

In 2024, it was reported that Momika left for Norway. Shortly after his departure, reports emerged that he had been found dead, however, the Norwegian police appeared to deny the rumours. He was later arrested on 28 March and deported back to Sweden on 11 April.

Published 13:56 IST, January 30th 2025