What is it about?
The trial against Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem begins on Wednesday in the Stockholm District Court.
The two are suspected of incitement to ethnic or racial hatred following their actions during several highly publicized Quran burnings in the summer of 2023.
The indictment includes a total of four gatherings in the Stockholm area, including one outside the Stockholm Mosque on Södermalm during the Muslim holiday Id al-adha.
Momika and Najem have, among other things, desecrated and burned the Quran, wrapped it in pork and kicked it around on the ground. Additionally, both have made statements that, according to prosecutor Anna Hankkio, fall within the framework of incitement to ethnic or racial hatred.
What reactions did the Quran burnings provoke?
The Quran burnings provoked strong reactions – both at home and around the world. In Sweden, they led to several riots and disturbances.
The political consequences were also significant.
In July 2023, Sweden's embassy in Baghdad was stormed by hundreds of people. At the same time, Iraq broke off all diplomatic contacts with Sweden.
Just a few days later, Iran's spiritual and political leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the Swedish government of being on the verge of war with the Muslim world.
A number of other countries also directed sharp criticism at Sweden following the events.
How was the security situation affected?
In August 2023, the terror threat level was raised from 3 to 4 on the five-level scale. According to Säpo, Sweden went from being a legitimate to a prioritized target – partly due to the Quran burnings.
Two legal processes are underway – one in Germany and one in Sweden – where terrorist attacks were planned against Sweden. In both cases, the plans are said to have been motivated by the Quran burnings. In December, two men were convicted in Germany for planning a bomb attack on a Swedish church, also motivated by the Quran burnings.
Who are the Quran burners?
The Iraqi citizen Salwan Momika – who first came to Sweden in 2018 and was granted a three-year residence permit in 2021 – has been behind a large number of Quran burnings throughout Sweden.
In March, Salwan Momika was arrested in Norway after stating that he would seek asylum there. He was deported to Sweden and received a new residence permit at the end of May.
Salwan Najem, on the other hand, came to Sweden from Iraq in 1998. He became a Swedish citizen in 2005 and participated in several Quran burnings together with Momika.
Both men deny any wrongdoing, according to the indictment.
