Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika again burns Quran, leading to violent clashes in Sweden

Malmo: Tensions escalated in Malmo, Sweden's third-largest city, as clashes erupted in an immigrant neighbourhood after an anti-Muslim protester set fire to a Quran. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday and continued into the night, has been labelled a "violent riot" by local authorities.

The chaos began when Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam activist, publicly burned a copy of the Quran, inciting anger among local residents. An angry mob attempted to intervene, resulting in a confrontation with the police.

Several individuals were detained by the helmeted officers while projectiles, including rocks, were hurled at the police. Dozens of cars, including those in an underground garage, were set ablaze.

Early Monday, a predominantly youthful crowd further exacerbated the situation by igniting tires and debris, as well as vandalizing public property. Electric scooters, bicycles, and barriers were tossed, adding to the chaos in Malmo's Rosengard neighbourhood, which has witnessed similar clashes in the past.

This incident is part of a series of anti-Islam protests led by Salwan Momika, a refugee from Iraq, who has previously desecrated the Quran in Stockholm. The Swedish police have allowed his actions, citing freedom of speech as the rationale.

Muslim leaders in Sweden have called upon the government to explore measures to prevent such incidents.

Despite Sweden's removal of blasphemy laws in the 1970s, the government has announced an inquiry into legal mechanisms that would enable the police to deny permits for demonstrations on grounds of national security concerns.