An Iraqi-origin immigrant residing in Sweden, who made headlines in 2023 for repeatedly burning the Quran, was shot dead. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. A court in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, confirmed on Thursday, January 31, that Selwan Momika has died. According to Swedish media, this court was supposed to rule on whether Momika had committed 'inciting ethnic hatred' by burning the Quran. After the court announced that it needed more time due to Selwan Momika's death, it became clear that he had died in a shooting at an apartment in a city outside the capital on Wednesday. Swedish media reported that Momika was live-streaming on TikTok during the attack. Meanwhile, another suspect in the case wrote on social media platform X: 'I am the next one.' Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has raised the possibility of a connection between this attack and a 'foreign power' and stated that security forces are seriously investigating the matter. Selwan Momika, a Christian immigrant, first tore pages from a Quran, the holy book of Muslims, and burned them in front of the main mosque in Stockholm in July 2023. He repeated this act two more times in August of the same year. This action provoked outrage from several Muslim countries, including Turkey and Iran, and Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, called for 'the harshest punishment' for those who insult the Quran in a written message at that time. Following protests against the burning of the Quran, Sweden raised its terrorism alert level in 2023 and warned of threats against its citizens both domestically and abroad. On Thursday, following the opening of a murder investigation for Selwan Momika, Swedish police reported that five 'suspects' had been arrested in this regard. The identities of these individuals and the motive of the killer or killers for killing Momika are still unknown. The Swedish government has repeatedly emphasized that it opposes the burning or insulting of the Quran, deeming it 'provocative,' and has initiated a judicial review regarding it, but under its laws, it cannot and does not have the right to deprive the residents of Sweden of their 'freedom of expression.'
Iraqi-Origin Immigrant Who Burned the Quran in Sweden Killed; 'Possibility of Foreign Power Involvement'
Selwan Momika, an Iraqi-origin immigrant known for burning the Quran in Sweden, was shot dead, leading to the arrest of five suspects. Swedish authorities are investigating potential foreign involvement in the incident, which has raised tensions following Momika's controversial actions that angered several Muslim countries.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Selwan Momika, an Iraqi-origin immigrant in Sweden, was shot dead after Quran burnings, raising foreign involvement concerns.
- Swedish police arrest five suspects
- Swedish government investigate foreign power involvement
- Selwan Momika burn Quran
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The killing of Selwan Momika highlights the volatile intersection of free speech and religious sensitivities.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%