A shooting in Sweden that killed an Iraqi refugee who burned the Koran publicly has sparked concerns about a possible link to a foreign power. Man Salwan Momika, 38, was shot in his home in Stockholm just hours before a court verdict on Thursday over his burning of the Islamic holy book.
Momika had been convicted of desecrating copies of the Koran in 2023 and had been due to appear in court again for another charge related to his actions. The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, has warned that there may be a connection to a foreign power behind the shooting.
Police have arrested five people over the killing, but it is not yet clear if they were involved with Momika or the gunman. The government has condemned the murder and expressed concern about its implications for Swedish security.
The incident raises concerns about Islamophobia in Sweden, where burning the Koran is a highly sensitive issue due to its potential blasphemy connotations. While some have criticized the wave of Koran burnings as hate speech, others see it as a protected form of free expression.
The Swedish government had previously raised its terrorism alert level after Momika’s actions sparked widespread outrage and threats from extremist groups in 2023. The incident is now being assessed by Sweden’s Security Service to determine its potential impact on the country’s security.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/man-shot-dead-sweden-ahead-court-verdict-over-koran-burning-2025-01-30