Suspects in killing of Quran burner Momika released in Sweden

Suspects in killing of Quran burner Salwan Momika released in Sweden — An Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, burns the Islamic book Quran in Stockholm, Sweden, 2023. Photo: Momika’s X

STOCKHOLM,— A Swedish prosecutor announced Friday that five individuals detained in connection with the killing of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee known for publicly burning the Quran, have been released from custody.

Momika, 38, was shot dead on Wednesday inside a residence in Södertälje, a town near Stockholm. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson suggested on Thursday that the killing could be linked to foreign influence, though no specific country was mentioned.

Senior Prosecutor Rasmus Öman said in a statement that although the five suspects were initially arrested shortly after the incident, the evidence against them had weakened as the investigation progressed. However, he confirmed that they remain under investigation as authorities continue to gather information.

Momika had faced legal proceedings in Sweden for desecrating copies of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, during public demonstrations and on social media. A verdict in his case was expected just hours after his death.

His Quran burnings, which sparked widespread outrage in the Muslim world, led Sweden in 2023 to raise its terrorism threat level to the second-highest tier. The government cited increased risks of attacks against Swedish interests both domestically and abroad.

In response to the Quran desecrations, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the acts in 2023, calling for severe punishment for those involved. He accused Sweden of waging a “war against the Muslim world” by allowing such actions to occur.

According to experts, the killing of Momika serves as a grim confirmation of what he had attempted to convey through his act of burning the Quran—that “the Quran is dangerous, incites hatred, and killing for all non-Muslims.”

(With files from Reuters | Agencies)