ALBAWABA- Two men in Sweden, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, are set to go on trial for burning the Quran during protests last year, acts that triggered widespread anger across the Muslim world.
Swedish prosecutors announced on Wednesday that the men are charged with “agitation against an ethnic or national group” for desecrating the Quran on four separate occasions, including one incident outside a mosque in Stockholm.
The Quran burnings, which took place in the summer of 2023, deeply offended Muslim communities, led to heightened security measures in Sweden and strained the country’s diplomatic relations with the Middle East.
Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio stated, “Both men are being prosecuted for making statements and treating the Quran in a manner intended to express contempt for Muslims because of their faith.”
She emphasized the importance of the case being heard in court, noting that the primary evidence consists of video recordings.
Momika, a Christian refugee from Iraq, claimed that his actions were meant to protest against Islam and advocate for banning its holy book.
Najem, however, maintains his innocence, with his lawyer arguing that his actions were protected by the Swedish Constitution under the permit granted for the demonstration.
One of the most notable incidents occurred on July 30, 2023, when the two Iraqi-origin refugees set fire to a Quran in front of the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm, an act that escalated diplomatic tensions between Sweden and the Muslim world.
They also organized a similar rally on July 20, 2023, in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, where they desecrated the Quran without burning it.
