Peregraf
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee infamous for burning the Quran, was fatally shot in his apartment in Södertälje, Sweden, late Wednesday night, according to local media reports.
Swedish authorities responded to reports of a shooting around midnight and launched an investigation. "A man was found shot in a home in Hovsjö in Södertälje late on Wednesday ... It is 38-year-old Salwan Momika, who has died from gunshot wounds," Swedish state broadcaster SVT reported.
Stockholm police spokesperson Daniel Wikdahl confirmed that five suspects had been taken into custody for questioning in what has been described as an "execution-style" killing. Authorities have yet to determine a clear motive.
Momika, originally from Iraq’s Al-Hamdaniya District, east of Mosul, gained international attention in 2023 after publicly setting pages of the Quran on fire in Stockholm. His first act took place outside a mosque, followed by another protest outside the Iraqi embassy. Swedish authorities granted him permits for both demonstrations, citing free speech protections. His actions sparked widespread outrage across the Middle East and Europe, leading to condemnation from religious leaders and protests in Iraq.
Following these incidents, Momika reported receiving multiple death threats. Despite the controversy, he remained in Sweden and was scheduled to appear in a Stockholm court today on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. He had fled Iraq years earlier amid multiple legal complaints, including allegations of deception.
Swedish authorities continue to investigate whether his killing was directly linked to his controversial actions or other factors from his past.