Salwan Momika, Notorious Quran Burner, Fatally Shot in Sweden; Five Arrested

Synopsis

On January 30, 2023, Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old man notorious for Quran desecration, was shot dead in Sodertalje, Sweden. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the murder, which occurred just before a court verdict on an incitement case against him.

Key Takeaways

Salwan Momika was a notorious figure for Quran burning in Sweden.
He was shot dead during a live broadcast from his apartment.
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with his murder.
The incident occurred just before a court ruling on an incitement case.
The desecration of the Quran led to international outrage.

Stockholm, Jan 30 (NationPress) Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old man known for his demonstrations in Sweden and accused of Quran burning, has been fatally shot in Sodertalje, located in Stockholm County, eastern central Sweden, according to reports from Swedish media on Thursday.

Momika reportedly met his demise while conducting a live broadcast on social media from his apartment in Hovsjo late Wednesday night, just a day before the Stockholm District Court was scheduled to announce a verdict in an incitement case against him.

Prosecutor Rasmus Ohman confirmed that five individuals have been taken into custody on suspicion of murder, as reported by Sweden's prominent daily, Dagens Nyheter.

The Stockholm Police Region spokesperson revealed that authorities received a report regarding the shooting in Hovsjo at 11:11 PM local time.

The crime scene was examined overnight, and the apartment complex remains sealed off as of Thursday, with numerous police officers present. Drones have also been deployed to survey the area.

“The police have been questioning me, and they confirmed that he has died,” said Salwan Najem, a friend of Momika, during an interview with Swedish state broadcaster SVT.

Najem, who reported being warned that “you’re next,” also spoke with Momika's girlfriend that night.

“She started crying and said they killed him,” Najem recounted to SVT.

The act of desecrating the Quran had ignited outrage from various nations, including Saudi Arabia, which vehemently condemned Momika's burning of a copy of the Islamic holy book in the Swedish city of Malmo in October 2023.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed its strong disapproval of such blatant actions, stating that they inflamed the sentiments of millions of Muslims globally.

Momika was reportedly seen tearing pages from the holy text and burning it openly during demonstrations.