A Swedish court found an anti-Islam campaigner guilty on Monday of hate crimes for publicly desecrating the Holy Quran and making derogatory comments about Muslims, just five days after his fellow campaigner, who was also facing charges over the same incidents, was shot dead.
Salwan Najem, a Swedish citizen, was given a suspended sentence and fines for the Quran desecration and offensive remarks he made about Muslims in the 2023 incidents, which sparked unrest and anger towards Sweden in Muslim countries.
His fellow campaigner, Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, was shot dead last week on the day he was due to receive his verdict in the parallel case. No suspect has been charged in the killing yet; five people were detained but later released. Sweden’s prime minister has suggested that a foreign state may be behind it.
The 2023 Quran burnings raised the issue of balancing free speech rights with laws protecting ethnic and religious groups, becoming a major point of concern for Sweden, its Nordic neighbors, and other European nations.
The Stockholm district court stated that Najem, 50, and Momika had desecrated the Quran in various ways and made offensive statements about Islam, its representatives, and activities in mosques.
Najem was found guilty of hate crimes for “expressing contempt for the Muslim ethnic group due to their religious beliefs on four occasions,” the court said.
Najem’s lawyer indicated that he would appeal the verdict, stating: “My client believes that his statements fall within the scope of religious criticism, which is covered by freedom of expression.”
The case against Momika was dropped after his death.
