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Doha – Swedish prosecutors have charged Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem with “offenses of agitation against an ethnic or national group” for burning copies of the Quran during protests in the summer of 2023.
The incidents, which occurred on four separate occasions, sparked widespread outrage in Muslim countries and strained Sweden’s relations with nations in the Middle East.
According to Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio, the two men desecrated the Quran by burning it and making derogatory remarks about Muslims, with one incident taking place outside a mosque in Stockholm.
“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,” Hankkio said in a statement.
Evidence against the men primarily consists of video recordings of the events. Najem, through his lawyer Mark Safaryan, denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his actions were protected by the Swedish Constitution and the permit granted for the demonstration.
Momika, a Christian refugee from Iraq, had previously stated that he wanted to protest against the institution of Islam and ban its holy book.
The Quran burnings led to increased security measures in Sweden, with the country’s intelligence service Sapo raising the threat level after the incidents made Sweden a “prioritized target” for terror attacks.
The events also prompted Denmark to pass legislation in December 2023, making it illegal to burn copies of the Quran in public places. Sweden is currently considering legal options that would allow police to reject demonstration permits due to national security concerns.
The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called on its member states to take appropriate political and economic measures against Sweden, Denmark, and other countries that allow the burning of the Muslim holy book.
The OIC warned that this act, described as an “act of aggression that spreads hatred and contempt for religions and threatens global peace, security, and harmony,” must be stopped.
In January 2023, Morocco strongly condemned the Islamophobic acts of Swedish extremists burning the Quran in Stockholm, expressing astonishment at Sweden’s decision to allow such heinous acts that offend over a billion Muslims and risk triggering anger and hatred between religions and peoples.
In June of the same year, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Stockholm, reiterating its firm stance against Sweden’s hostile Islamophobic acts targeting Muslims during Eid Al Adha celebrations, considering it unacceptable to disrespect the Muslim faith and accommodate the views of a few.
The Swedish government has also condemned the Quran burnings while attempting to uphold the country’s constitutionally protected freedom of speech and assembly laws.
However, critics argue that Sweden, one of the most liberal countries in the world, should treat Quran burnings as a form of free speech protected by law.
Read also: Swedish Court Confirms Deportation Order Against Man Behind Quran-Burning Protests
