Sweden to Prosecute Men Over 2023 Quran Burnings

Wednesday 28 August 2024 - 17:25

Swedish authorities are set to prosecute two men, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, for their involvement in multiple Quran burnings during protests last year. These actions, which sparked significant backlash from Muslim-majority countries, led to widespread condemnation and strained diplomatic relations.

The Swedish Prosecutor's Office has charged the men with "offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group" on four separate occasions. These charges are linked to their public desecration of the Quran and derogatory remarks aimed at Muslims. Notably, one incident occurred outside a mosque in Stockholm.

Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio emphasized that the actions of Momika and Najem were intended to express contempt towards Muslims based on their faith. She stated, “It is crucial that these actions are examined in court, as they fall under the legal provisions against agitation against an ethnic or national group.”

The evidence against the accused largely consists of video recordings. Momika, a Christian refugee from Iraq, has stated that his aim was to protest the Islamic institution and seek a ban on the Quran. His legal representative, Mark Safaryan, defended his actions as protected under Swedish constitutional rights, given the permits for the demonstrations.

In response to the burnings, Sweden experienced large-scale protests. In Iraq, demonstrators attacked the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting fires within the compound. The international community reacted, with the United Nations Human Rights Council passing a resolution against religious hatred and bigotry, although the US and the EU abstained due to their stance on freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, the situation led Denmark to tighten its legislation against Quran burnings, implementing a law that bans public desecration of holy texts. Offenders now face fines or imprisonment under the new regulation.

The legal proceedings in Sweden are ongoing, with similar charges recently filed against Swedish-Danish activist Rasmus Paludan for a separate Quran burning incident in Malmo.