Salwan Momika, the Iraqi-born man who sparked global outrage with his Quran-desecration protests in Sweden last year, has been shot dead, according to reports. The incident occurred just as a Stockholm court was set to rule on his incitement case, leading to a postponement of the proceedings. The court confirmed the death of one of the defendants but did not name him directly.
Momika became notorious in 2023 after staging multiple protests in which he desecrated the Holy Quran, leading to widespread condemnation from Muslim-majority countries and diplomatic tensions for Sweden. His most controversial act took place outside Stockholm’s largest mosque during Eid celebrations, igniting protests across the Muslim world.
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Originally from Iraq, Momika fled to Sweden in 2018 and was granted residency in 2021. However, following his inflammatory demonstrations, Swedish authorities rejected his asylum application. Last month, he moved to Norway. Momika identified as a “liberal atheist critic” and defended his actions as an exercise in free speech, though his behavior was met with severe criticism from religious groups and human rights advocates.
Swedish authorities have yet to release details regarding the circumstances of his death, though an investigation is reportedly underway. The incident is expected to further fuel debates over freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs.
