Södertälje, Sweden – Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee known for his anti-Islam protests, was shot dead late Wednesday in Sweden, just hours before he was due to receive a court verdict related to desecrating the Holy Quran.
Swedish police have arrested five people in connection with the shooting in Södertälje, a town near Stockholm, though it remains unclear if the shooter is among them.
Momika, 38, gained international attention in 2023 after repeatedly burning copies of the Quran in public demonstrations, sparking outrage across the Muslim world. His actions led to a criminal trial in Sweden for “agitation against an ethnic or national group.” The Stockholm court was expected to deliver its verdict on Thursday but has postponed the announcement.
A police spokesperson confirmed that a man had been shot dead in Södertälje but declined to provide further details. According to Swedish media, Momika was live-streaming on TikTok at the time of the attack, and a video seen by Reuters showed police retrieving his phone and ending the stream.
Meanwhile, the second defendant in the same court case hinted at further danger, posting on X: “I’m next.”
Sweden’s Security Service is closely monitoring the situation amid concerns about national security. The country had raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level in 2023 after multiple Quran desecrations, many carried out by Momika, provoked backlash and threats from extremist groups.
Although the Swedish government condemned the desecrations, they were initially protected as free speech. Momika had faced deportation in 2023 for allegedly providing false information on his residency application, but Swedish authorities could not send him back to Iraq due to concerns that he would face torture or inhumane treatment.
The investigation into his killing is ongoing.
