Who was Salwan Momika? Iraqi man who burnt Quran in 2023 shot dead in Sweden

A man of Iraqi origin, who stirred outrage across the globe in 2023 by burning copies of the Quran, was shot dead inside his house on late Wednesday in Sweden, authorities confirmed.

Swedish media identified the victim as Salwan Momika, an Iraqi activist and refugee who, alongside fellow protester Salwan Najem, had been facing hate crime charges.

"A man was found shot in a home in Hovsjo in Sodertalje late on Wednesday. It is 38-year-old Salwan Momika, who has died from gunshot wounds," Swedish state media stated.


The Stockholm district court was scheduled to deliver its verdict on Thursday morning, just hours after the fatal shooting on Wednesday night.

Shooting and arrests

According to Sweden-based The Local, the attack took place at around 11pm, with reports suggesting Momika was live-streaming at the time. Police have detained five individuals in connection with the killing but have not confirmed the victim’s identity or details of his injuries. The court, however, postponed its ruling, citing the defendant’s death.

Quran burnings and global backlash

Momika and Najem’s protests in 2023, which involved setting fire to the Quran in Sweden and making inflammatory gestures, triggered widespread condemnation, particularly from Muslim-majority nations.

The outrage led to violent demonstrations, including an attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.

In the same year, Tehran saw a massive outrage as hundreds of protesters waved Iranian flags, carrying Islam's holy book, chanting, "Down with the United States, Britain, Israel and Sweden."


Several years ago, Momika fled to Sweden after being charged with numerous legal complaints, which included deception.

The Swedish government condemned the Quran desecrations while maintaining its stance on free speech laws. In response to rising security threats, Sweden’s intelligence agency raised the terror alert level to four out of five.

Momika's immigration struggles

After the protests, Sweden revoked Momika’s residency permit in October 2023, citing false claims in his asylum application.

Iraq requested his extradition, but Swedish authorities issued a temporary stay on his deportation.

Momika later attempted to seek asylum in Norway but was deported back to Sweden, where he was granted a one-year permit.

The case is under investigation as Swedish authorities work to determine the motives behind the killing.