Iraqi Refugee and Quran-Burning Activist Killed in Sweden

Salwan Momika, whose Quran-burning acts in 2023 caused international uproar, was fatally shot in his Stockholm-area apartment; five suspects have been released as investigations continue.

Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee known for burning copies of the Quran in 2023, was shot and killed in Södertälje, near Stockholm, while livestreaming on social media.
Five individuals were initially detained in connection with the murder but were released due to insufficient evidence, though they remain under investigation.
Momika’s actions in 2023, including Quran burnings outside a mosque and the Iraqi embassy, led to diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations, as well as heightened security threats in Sweden.
The Swedish Prime Minister suggested the possibility of foreign involvement in the killing, with national security agencies actively investigating the case.
Momika, who had faced death threats and lost his residency permit in Sweden, was awaiting a court verdict on charges of incitement to ethnic hatred, which has now been postponed.