Salwan Momika, notorious for his provocative acts of desecrating and burning the Quran in Sweden, was fatally shot in his apartment building on the outskirts of Stockholm on Wednesday evening. Authorities have detained five individuals in connection with the murder investigation. Reports suggest that Momika was broadcasting live on social media shortly before the incident. The 38-year-old, an Iraqi refugee from a Christian background and a self-proclaimed atheist, was scheduled to face trial on Thursday for charges related to inciting ethnic hatred. In light of the incident, a court in the capital announced the postponement of its verdict, citing that «one of the defendants died». Momika, alongside Salwan Najem, faced legal proceedings four times in 2023 for «agitation against an ethnic group». His actions earlier this year had ignited widespread protests across Sweden. As incidents of Quran desecrations rose in the country, the Swedish government publicly condemned these «Islamophobic» acts, while emphasizing that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are protected under the Constitution. Morocco also expressed its disapproval of such actions. The court had previously charged Salwan Momika with desecrating the Quran and making derogatory remarks about Muslims, particularly during an incident outside a mosque in Stockholm. In a landmark ruling in 2023, a Swedish court had already convicted an individual of inciting ethnic hatred following a similar Quran burning event.
