Salwan Momika, an Iraqi-born critic of Islam known for his controversial Qur’an-burning demonstrations, was shot dead on Wednesday night in Södertälje, Stockholm County, Sweden. The fatal attack took place around 11 PM local time, just hours before he was scheduled to appear in court on charges related to his past protests.
The 38-year-old, a self-identified liberal atheist from Iraq’s Assyrian Christian minority, sought asylum in Sweden in 2018, citing threats to his life in his home country. According to reports from Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the attack was live-streamed on TikTok, with the broadcast ending only after police arrived and shut down the device.
Swedish authorities have detained five suspects in connection with the killing, with investigators probing whether the assailant gained entry to the residence via the building’s rooftop. Momika first garnered international attention in 2023 after publicly burning copies of the Qur’an at various protests in Sweden. His actions, particularly near a Stockholm mosque and the Iraqi embassy, ignited widespread unrest among Muslim communities and led to diplomatic tensions with Iraq and Turkey.
To my dear friends, you can help me by donating to cover the costs of the lawyer who will provide me with asylum in America.
IBAN
Salwan momika
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Paypal:https://t.co/2TZGzJjeFx…https://t.co/zV8L4AqUJaBitcoin:
bc1q89cd6fqzu6jvtngpcjr4pal8ecc4yjny3ehg8k… pic.twitter.com/p6sduQIey7
— Salwan Momika (@Salwan_Momika1) January 18, 2025
His demonstrations fueled ongoing debates over the limits of free speech and religious sensitivities in Sweden, eventually resulting in criminal charges against him for incitement against an ethnic group. With his passing, legal proceedings against him have been terminated, as confirmed by a court spokesperson.
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Momika’s assassination has heightened concerns over security threats tied to anti-Islam demonstrations, further escalating tensions surrounding religious and political discourse in Sweden.
