Salwan Momika shot dead: Who was the controversial Iraqi refugee in Sweden known for publicly burning the Quran?

Shooting and arrests

According to Sweden-based The Local, the shooting occurred around 11 p.m., with reports indicating that Momika was live-streaming at the time. Police detained five individuals in connection with the case but have not confirmed the victim’s identity or details of his injuries. The investigation is ongoing as authorities examine possible motives behind the attack.

Quran burnings and global response

Momika and Najem’s Quran burnings in 2023 led to widespread condemnation, particularly from Muslim-majority nations. The incidents sparked violent protests, including an attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
In Tehran, protesters waved Iranian flags while chanting against the United States, Britain, Israel, and Sweden.

Swedish authorities had condemned the desecrations but upheld the country’s free speech laws. In response to security concerns, Sweden’s intelligence agency raised the terror alert level to four out of five.

Who was Salwan Momika?

Momika, originally from Qaraqosh in northern Iraq’s Nineveh province, was born into an Assyrian Catholic family. During the sectarian violence between 2006 and 2008, he joined the Assyrian Patriotic Party and worked as a security guard in Mosul.Following the Islamic State’s capture of Mosul in 2014, he became part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), appearing in footage dressed in military gear and pledging allegiance to the Imam Ali Brigades.In 2017, he moved to Germany using a Schengen visa, where he publicly renounced his faith and identified as an atheist. By 2018, he sought asylum in Sweden and was granted refugee status.

He later received a temporary residence permit in 2021, but his bid for permanent residency was rejected due to inconsistencies in his asylum application, including disputed claims about his association with the Imam Ali Brigades.

In Sweden, he was seen engaging with politicians, including Christian Democrat MP Robert Halef and Sweden Democrats’ Julia Kronlid, and later explored a potential political career with the Sweden Democrats.

Shooting and arrests

According to Sweden-based The Local, the shooting occurred around 11 p.m., with reports indicating that Momika was live-streaming at the time.

Police detained five individuals in connection with the case but have not confirmed the victim’s identity or details of his injuries. The investigation is ongoing as authorities examine possible motives behind the attack.

Momika’s immigration status

Momika fled to Sweden after facing legal issues in Iraq. In October 2023, Sweden revoked his residency permit, citing false information in his asylum application.

Iraq requested his extradition, but Swedish authorities temporarily halted his deportation. Momika later sought asylum in Norway but was deported back to Sweden, where he was granted a one-year permit.

Swedish authorities continue their investigation into the shooting while assessing potential security risks linked to the case.