A Swedish court convicted anti-Islam activist Salwan Najem of committing hate crimes for publicly desecrating the Holy Quran. The ruling came just five days after another individual, Salwan Momika, who was involved in similar protests, was fatally shot on the day he was scheduled to receive his verdict.
Najem, a Swedish citizen, was given a suspended sentence and fined for desecrating the Quran and making inflammatory comments about Muslims during incidents in 2023. These actions led to widespread unrest and spurred anger towards Sweden in Muslim-majority countries.
The protests also caused diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern nations. In July 2023, Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting fires on two separate occasions. Sweden’s security services raised the country’s threat level, citing the Quran burnings as a key factor in making Sweden a “prioritized target.”
The court stated that both Najem and Momika desecrated the Quran in various ways while making offensive remarks about Islam and Muslims. The judge emphasized that while freedom of speech allows for religious criticism, it does not protect expressions that incite contempt toward a particular religious group. Najem was found guilty on four counts of hate crimes for showing disrespect toward Muslims based on their religious beliefs.
Najem received a two-year probation period, meaning if he commits another crime during this time, his sentence will be reconsidered. He was also fined 4,000 kronor ($358). His lawyer plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the actions were part of religious criticism protected under free speech laws.
The case against Momika was dropped following his death. Authorities have not yet identified a suspect in the killing, although five individuals were briefly detained and later released. Sweden’s prime minister has suggested the possibility of foreign involvement in the incident.
