Swedish prosecutors have charged two men, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, with inciting ethnic hatred due to several Qur’an-burning protests in 2023, which provoked significant backlash in Muslim countries.
The charges stem from four incidents during the summer of 2023 where the men burned the Lily Qur’an and made derogatory remarks about Muslims, including an incident outside a Stockholm mosque.
According to media reports, the prosecutors stated that the men’s actions were intended to show contempt for Muslims based on their faith, and emphasized the importance of having these actions evaluated in court under the laws against incitement of hatred toward ethnic or national groups.
The Qur’an-burning protests led to strained relations between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations. In response to the heightened tensions and threats, Sweden’s intelligence agency, Sapo, raised the country’s threat level, marking it as a prioritized target.
The charges against Momika and Najem follow a series of similar legal actions, including the prosecution of right-wing activist Rasmus Paludan and a 2023 conviction of another individual for a 2020 Qur’an burning.
While Swedish law sometimes protects such actions under free speech, the context and accompanying statements can lead to charges of inciting hatred, as seen in these recent cases.
