Sweden expels Salwan Momika

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Sweden’s Migration Agency has decided to expel an Iraqi man who burned copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, at demonstrations in recent months in Stockholm, broadcaster TV4 reported on Thursday.

In August, Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level and warned of an increase in threats against Swedes at home and abroad after Koran burnings outraged Muslims and triggered threats from jihadists.

Several actions were led by Salwan Momika, a refugee from Iraq who says he wants to protest against the whole institution of Islam and ban its holy book.

“The Migration Agency has decided to expel the person from Sweden,” TV4 quoted the migration agency as saying.

However, it granted a temporary residence permit until April 16, 2024 due to “complications carrying out the decision,” it said.

In July it said it was re-examining the man’s residency permit.

“I am not leaving Sweden. I will live and die in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency has made a serious mistake. I suspect there are hidden political motives behind this decision. I will appeal,” Momika told Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Anti-Islam activists have burned several copies of the Koran in Sweden and Denmark, two of the most liberal countries in the world that allow trenchant criticism of religion in the name of free speech. But many Muslims view desecrating the Koran, which they see as the literal word of God, as a grave offence.

Last week, a Tunisian gunman killed two Swedish football fans in Brussels in an attack which Sweden’s prime minister said showed that Europe must bolster security to protect itself. The gunman identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility in a video posted online.