A Target of Violence
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee and outspoken critic of Islam, was shot dead in his apartment in Södertälje, Sweden, on January 30, 2025. His killing occurred while he was reportedly livestreaming on TikTok, a moment that has sent shockwaves across Sweden and beyond. Five suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder, and authorities have not ruled out the involvement of a foreign power. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated, “I can guarantee that the security services are deeply involved, because there is clearly a risk of connection to a foreign power.” However, he did not specify which country might be responsible.
Why Was Salwan Momika a Target?
Momika became infamous for his public burnings of the Quran in 2023. These acts, which he claimed were an expression of free speech, sparked international outrage, particularly in Muslim-majority countries. His protests led to violent demonstrations, including attacks on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, and strained Sweden’s diplomatic relations, especially with Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed to these Quran burnings as a reason to delay Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
Momika, who had sought asylum in Sweden as an atheist fleeing persecution in Iraq, had a history of provocative actions. While Sweden upholds freedom of speech, his demonstrations forced the country into a precarious balancing act between protecting civil liberties and maintaining public safety. His actions were widely condemned, but they were also protected under Swedish law—at least until he was charged with inciting ethnic hatred.
In August 2023, Momika was formally charged with “agitation against an ethnic or national group” due to his public Quran desecrations, including an incident outside a Stockholm mosque. A verdict in his case was expected on January 30, the day after his killing. His co-defendant, Salwan Najem, reacted to the news with alarm, posting on X, “I’m next.”
Adding to his troubles, Swedish authorities revoked his residency in late 2023, citing false statements in his asylum application. Reports emerged that he had previously led a Christian militia in Iraq, a revelation that weakened his claim of being a persecuted individual. With Norway rejecting his bid for asylum, Momika had little choice but to return to Sweden, where he continued to broadcast anti-Islam content to a growing online audience.
Momika’s influence extended beyond Sweden. His Quran burnings became a tool for anti-Western propaganda in Arabic and Russian-language media. Some outlets falsely claimed that Sweden itself endorsed the desecration of Islam’s holy book, using his protests to fuel anti-Western sentiment.
Reaction to His Death
The response to Momika’s killing has been swift and divided. Some see his death as a tragic consequence of Sweden’s failure to protect freedom of speech, while others argue that his provocations had inevitably put him in harm’s way. Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch condemned the killing, calling it “a threat to our free democracy. It must be met with the full force of our society.”
Others worry that this murder is just another example of how Sweden’s escalating gang violence has become a tool for foreign entities to eliminate political enemies. Sweden has seen an alarming rise in gun violence, now holding the highest gun-murder rate per capita in the European Union. Swedish authorities have accused Iran of exploiting this surge in violence by recruiting local gang members—including minors—to target political opponents. Swedish police have also linked gangs to previous attacks, such as an attempted attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.
The murder investigation remains ongoing, but authorities are treating it as a serious national security issue. The Stockholm District Court postponed its verdict in Momika’s trial due to his death, moving the decision to February 3.
Radical Islam and the Price of Blasphemy
Salwan Momika’s fate is a chilling reminder of how radical Islam responds to perceived insults. While burning a Quran is undoubtedly offensive to many, the brutal execution of a man over such an act highlights the extreme intolerance within certain factions of the Muslim world. Time and again, individuals who dare to criticize or mock Islamic teachings face death threats, attacks, or outright assassinations.
From the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands to the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France, radical Islam has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to kill for even the slightest provocation. The murder of Momika is yet another instance in a long and bloody history where perceived blasphemy is met with deadly force. This raises serious questions about the limits of free speech in the face of religious extremism and whether Western democracies can truly protect those who exercise their right to offend.
Sweden’s security services have warned of growing threats following Momika’s death, and the country remains on high alert for potential retaliatory violence. The government had already raised its terrorism threat level in 2023 in response to backlash from the Quran burnings, and officials are now bracing for further unrest.
The killing of Salwan Momika is not just about one man—it is a warning. It is a message that in today’s world, criticism of Islam can still be a death sentence. And until radical extremism is confronted head-on, more will meet the same fate.
