Iraqi Immigrant Burns Quran Again in Sweden; Police Arrest Several Individuals

Swedish police on Sunday arrested about 10 people for public disorder and two others on suspicion of rioting following a violent disturbance during the burning of the Quran. The Quran burning was organized by Silvan Momika, an Iraqi refugee in the southern city of Malmo, which has a large immigrant population. According to Swedish state television, around two hundred people were present to watch the event. Momika, 37, had previously burned a copy of the Quran in front of the largest mosque in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The Swedish police stated that some spectators expressed distressing emotions after Momika burned the Quran, leading to "violent disturbances" in the afternoon local time. The Swedish government condemned the Quran burning while also referencing laws on freedom of expression and assembly. In mid-August, Swedish authorities raised their terrorism alert level from five to four in response to terrorist threats. Denmark, the neighboring country that has also witnessed several Quran burnings, announced its intention to ban the burning of the Quran. The Quran burning in Europe has led Iran to summon the chargé d'affaires of Sweden and Denmark separately.