Swedish court declares anti-Muslim activist guilty of burning Holy Quran

A Swedish court declared anti-Muslim campaigner Salwan Najem guilty of hate crimes targeting Islam and specifically the public burning of the Holy Quran.

The ruling came after another man, Salwan Momika, who was being prosecuted in connection with the same incident, was shot dead in Sweden.

Salwan Najem, 52, was a Swedish citizen, was given a suspended sentence and fined 4,000 crowns ($358) for desecration of the Holy Quran, including burning it and making derogatory comments about Muslims and Islam.

His Islamophobic acts, including the public burning of the Holy Quran in 2023, sparked unrest and outcry in Sweden and other Muslim countries.

Read: Iraqi man who desecrated Quran shot dead in Sweden

His fellow campaigner, Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, was gunned down last week, he had been due to receive a verdict in a parallel case.

No suspect has yet been charged in Momika's killing. Authorities detained five individuals but later released them. However, Swedish authorities suspect that foreign states may be involved.

In 2023, the balance between freedom of speech and the protection of ethnic and religious groups was a major issue for Sweden and other European countries.

The court ruled that the two individuals had committed blasphemy by disrespecting the Holy Quran and making derogatory remarks about Islam, its followers, and mosque activities.

Read: In a first, Denmark charges two individuals in Quran desecration case

Moreover, it added that the Quran, as a sacred text, does not automatically receive special protection and that burning it may not always be considered a hate crime, depending on the circumstances. 

Najem was found guilty of a hate crime for expressing contempt for the Muslim ethnic group because of their religious beliefs.

However, Najem’s counsel expressed his intention to file a review appeal against the verdict.