Fri Jan 31 19:47:05 UTC 2025: ## Quran-Burning Protester Shot Dead in Sweden; Court Case Postponed

**Stockholm, Sweden** – Salwan Momika, the Iraqi Christian who gained international notoriety for publicly burning the Quran in Sweden last year, has been shot dead, ending a pending court case where he faced charges of inciting ethnic hatred. The Stockholm court announced the postponement of the ruling on Thursday, citing Momika’s death.

Momika’s actions sparked widespread outrage and protests in several Muslim-majority countries, significantly straining Sweden’s relations with the Middle East. The Swedish government responded by increasing security measures.

Momika and a co-defendant, Salwan Najem, were charged with “offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group” for several incidents involving Quran burnings and derogatory remarks about Muslims. Prosecutors relied heavily on video evidence. While Najem, represented by lawyer Mark Safaryan, pleaded not guilty, arguing his actions were protected under the Swedish Constitution, Momika had openly stated his intention to protest against Islam and called for a ban on the Quran.

Momika’s past, revealed in various reports, paints a complex picture. Images and videos surfaced showing him as a militia leader in Iraq, even heading a Christian militia within the Imam Ali Brigades, a group accused of war crimes. He reportedly fled Iraq in 2018 following a power struggle. Despite a deportation order from the Swedish migration agency due to issues with his residency application, the order was not enforced due to fears of torture upon his return to Iraq. The circumstances surrounding Momika’s death remain unclear, and an investigation is likely. The court case against Najem will now proceed without Momika.

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