Sweden authorities have announced the prosecution of Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem for their involvement in multiple Quran-burning incidents that took place last year. The two men face charges of “incitement against an ethnic or national group” after desecrating Islam’s holy book on four separate occasions, actions that ignited widespread anger throughout the Muslim world.
The prosecution alleges that Momika and Najem not only burned copies of the Quran but also made disparaging comments about Muslims during these acts. One of the incidents occurred outside a mosque in Stockholm, drawing significant attention. Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio explained that the men are being charged for “deliberately showing contempt for Muslims and their faith” through their actions.
The case against the two men is built primarily on video evidence documenting the events. Najem, however, has denied any wrongdoing, with his legal team arguing that his actions are protected under Sweden’s constitutional right to free speech. Supporters of this view argue that, despite the controversial nature of Quran burning, it falls within the scope of free expression.
In the wake of these incidents, Sweden’s domestic security service raised the nation’s terrorism threat level, citing increased risks. The Quran burnings also led to diplomatic tensions with several Middle Eastern nations, most notably Iraq, where protesters breached the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on two occasions in July 2023.
In contrast, Denmark, which faced a similar wave of Quran burnings last year, has already passed legislation to outlaw such acts. Sweden is currently exploring legal avenues to allow police to deny permits for demonstrations that pose significant national security risks.
Additionally, Swedish prosecutors have charged Rasmus Paludan, a right-wing activist with dual Swedish-Danish citizenship, for a Quran-burning protest in Malmö in 2022.
