Salwan Momika, a controversial figure known for his Quran-burning stunts, was shot dead on January 29, 2025, during a live stream on TikTok in Södertälje, Sweden.
According to media reports, the Swedish police confirmed that the brutal execution was broadcast live. Momika, a native Iraqi, gained international attention in 2023 after he burned a Quran in Stockholm and then kicked the burned book around in front of the Iraqi embassy. This provocative act sparked widespread protests, particularly in Islamic countries like Iraq, Iran and Pakistan, where it was seen as a grave insult.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned Sweden’s decision to allow Momika’s actions, describing them as a “dangerous provocation” that had “inflamed the feelings of Muslims worldwide.”
Momika, who arrived in Sweden as a refugee in 2019, claimed in interviews that he had been persecuted as a Christian by the Islamic State (IS) in his homeland and was fighting against what he called “dictatorial Islamic societies” through his actions. Despite the massive criticism of his person and actions, Momika refused to apologize for burning the Quran.
“Why should I?” he said in an interview with ARD. For him, the core of the problem was not himself, but the societies he saw as repressive.
His death has not only raised questions about freedom of speech and the limits of provocation, but also about the dangers associated with extreme political statements and actions. The execution was witnessed by several people and broadcast on TikTok, adding a further twist to this tragic case. The Swedish authorities have taken several suspects into custody in connection with the murder and the investigation is ongoing.
Momika had previously attempted to seek asylum in several countries, including the US and was rejected in Norway in 2024 before being sent back to Sweden.
While his supporters saw him as a defender of free speech, many Muslims viewed him as a provocateur whose actions threatened peace and religious tolerance.