The residency permit of Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, responsible for several Quran desecrations in Stockholm, is being re-examined by Sweden’s migration authority. His actions, including burning a copy of the Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque and making threats in front of the Iraqi embassy, have caused a global uproar.
The Swedish migration agency received information from local authorities, prompting the re-evaluation of his immigration status. A spokesperson for the agency stated that the outcome of the case remains uncertain, and they are bound by confidentiality rules.
Momika currently holds a temporary residency permit in Sweden, valid until 2024. However, the recent incidents of Quran attacks in both Sweden and Denmark have raised concerns, leading to negative reactions from Muslim-majority countries, including Türkiye, whose support Sweden seeks to join NATO.
While Swedish courts have ruled that police cannot intervene in Quran burnings, the government is considering potential changes to the Public Order Act to address the situation. As it stands, Sweden does not have a law specifically prohibiting the desecration of religious texts, categorizing such provocations as an exercise of “freedom of speech.”
These Quran-burning incidents have had adverse effects on Sweden’s image and security situation, with the Swedish Security Service warning of potential threats. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and security service representatives discussed the crisis before the Swedish parliament’s foreign affairs committee, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation but noting that there is no immediate solution to ease tensions in the Muslim world.
