Salwan momika: The Controversial Figure Behind Sweden’s Quran burnings Found Dead
Salwan Momika,a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee,was not the first to burn Qurans in Sweden.However, his actions in the summer of 2023 ignited a firestorm, straining Sweden’s relations with parts of the Middle East and prompting the Swedish authorities to raise the terrorist alert level on August 17, 2023. On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Momika was found dead in his apartment in Södertertälje, south of Stockholm, marking a grim end to a life steeped in controversy.
The alarm was raised around 11 p.m. when gunshots echoed through a building in the Hovsjö district. According to Swedish media, Momika was live-streaming on TikTok when he was shot. His execution was broadcast in real-time on the social network before a police officer arrived at the scene and halted the stream.
By Thursday morning, prosecutor Rasmus Öhman confirmed that five individuals had been arrested, all suspected of murder. During a press conference, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson revealed that Swedish intelligence services were “very involved in this case, as there is, obviously, a risk of links with foreign powers.”
Momika’s actions had long been a source of tension. His public desecrations of the Quran, protected under Sweden’s freedom of speech laws, drew widespread condemnation from muslims both within Sweden and abroad. These protests not only sparked outrage but also raised concerns among Swedish officials about the potential for the country to become a target for Islamic extremists.
| Key Details | Information |
|——————|—————–|
| Name | Salwan Momika |
| Age | 38 |
| Nationality | Iraqi |
| Status | Refugee |
| Incident Date| January 29, 2025|
| Location | Södertertälje, Sweden |
| Arrests | 5 suspects |
Momika’s death has left many questions unanswered. Was this a targeted act of retribution, or does it point to broader geopolitical tensions? As Swedish authorities continue their investigation, the world watches closely, aware of the delicate balance between freedom of expression and the consequences of provocation.