Quran Burning Man Shot Dead

A man, known for his controversial Quran burnings in Sweden, was shot dead in a reported shooting incident in Södertälje, just ahead of a court ruling on his actions that sparked global outrage.

A man known for burning the Quran in Sweden has reportedly been shot dead, with his trial now postponed.

In 2023, his Quran burnings led to widespread outrage across Muslim nations. He was facing charges for allegedly inciting ethnic hatred during protests. The Stockholm court was set to rule on his case this Thursday, but the decision has been delayed until February 3 due to his death.

Swedish authorities were alerted to a shooting in Södertälje, where the man resided. Police arrived to find a man with gunshot wounds indoors. He was rushed to the hospital but later died. A police investigation has begun, and multiple media outlets have identified the victim. Reports suggest that the shooting may have been streamed live on social media.

In August 2023, he and another protester, Salwan Najem, were charged with “agitation against an ethnic group” after burning Qurans on four occasions. “The charges detailed how they desecrated the holy book, including offensive remarks about Muslims,” which included an incident outside a mosque in Stockholm.

The protests intensified tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries. In July 2023, Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice, with the second attack resulting in fires at the embassy.

Due to the Quran burnings, Sweden’s intelligence service, Säpo, raised its terror threat level to four out of five, noting that the country had become a “prioritised target.”

While the Swedish government condemned the actions, it defended the nation’s constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. In October 2023, a Swedish court convicted a man for inciting ethnic hatred in a separate Quran-burning incident from 2020. “Prosecutors had stated that burning a Quran could be viewed as a critique of the text and religion, which falls under free speech protections,” but noted that actions could also be considered “agitation against an ethnic group” depending on the context.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG