Two men, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, are set to stand trial in Sweden after burning the Quran during a series of protests last year. Their actions led to significant outrage across Muslim-majority countries.
On Wednesday, Swedish prosecutors announced that both men are facing charges of “agitation against an ethnic or national group” for burning copies of the Quran on four different occasions.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the two men have been accused of desecrating the Islamic holy book, including burning it, while making derogatory statements about Muslims. One of these incidents occurred outside a mosque in Stockholm.
These events, which took place in the summer of 2023, not only provoked anger among Muslim leaders but also prompted Sweden to tighten its security measures and strained its relations with several Middle Eastern nations.
Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio remarked, “Both men are prosecuted for having on these four occasions made statements and treated the Quran in a manner intended to express contempt for Muslims because of their faith.” She emphasized that the men’s actions are considered agitation against an ethnic or national group and highlighted the necessity of having this matter addressed in court.
Hankkio also mentioned that the prosecution’s evidence largely consists of video recordings of the incidents.
Najem, one of the accused, has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer, Mark Safaryan, argued that the demonstration permit granted aligns with his client’s intentions and that his actions are protected by the Swedish Constitution.
Momika, who is an Iraqi Christian refugee, has claimed that his actions were intended as a protest against Islam and a call for banning the Quran.
In the meantime, Sweden’s migration agency has moved to deport Momika, citing false information on his residency application. However, the deportation has not been carried out due to concerns that he might face torture if returned to Iraq.
The Quran burnings sparked widespread protests in several countries. In Iraq, demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July 2023, setting parts of the compound on fire.
In response to these incidents, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution condemning religious hatred and bigotry. The United States and the European Union abstained from the vote, citing concerns about freedom of expression.
Although some argue that Quran burnings fall under free speech and should be legally protected, Swedish prosecutors recently charged Swedish-Danish right-wing activist Rasmus Paludan with a similar crime for a Quran-burning protest in Malmo in 2022.
In neighboring Denmark, which also witnessed several Quran burnings last year, new legislation has been introduced to ban the practice.
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