Two Swedish men to stand trial over Quran burnings

Two Swedish men, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, are set to face trial for burning the Quran multiple times during protests last year, an act that triggered significant outrage in Muslim-majority countries.

The Swedish Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday that both individuals have been charged with "offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group" on four separate occasions.

The charges allege that Momika and Najem desecrated the Quran, including through burning, while making derogatory comments about Muslims. One of these incidents reportedly occurred outside a mosque in Stockholm. The actions, which took place during the summer of 2023, led to heightened security measures in Sweden and strained diplomatic relations with several Middle Eastern nations.

The prosecution's case against the men is primarily based on video evidence. According to Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio, the actions of the accused were intended to express contempt towards Muslims based on their faith, falling under the legal provisions related to agitation against ethnic or national groups.

In response, Najem's lawyer has argued that the demonstrations were lawful under Swedish constitutional rights, while Momika has stated that his actions were aimed at protesting the institution of Islam and advocating for a ban on its holy book. The trial will address the extent to which their actions constitute a legal offence under Swedish law.