Salwan Momika, who rose to world fame by burning Qurans, finances her life with Tiktok videos. He is afraid of persecution in Iraq and wants asylum in Sweden.
Known as a Koran burner Salwan Momika has submitted 12 new applications to burn the Muslim holy book Koran in Sweden, says Swedish radio.
According to the applications, Momika would like to burn Korans in different places in Stockholm, Malmö and Örebro during the next three weeks.
According to Swedish Radio, the applications were submitted on Monday and have not yet been approved.
Salwan Momika started the controversial Koran burnings in late June. His actions have fueled the anger towards Sweden in Muslim countries.
Salwan Momika fears persecution from Iraq
37-year-old Momika has an Iraqi background. He received a three-year residence permit in Sweden in April 2021.
Now he fears that he will face persecution in Iraq due to his political actions if he is returned there. He has applied for asylum in Sweden.
The Swedish immigration authorities took up Momika’s asylum application again in July after the burning of the Koran.
Iraq has demanded that Sweden extradite Momika so that he can be accused of burning the Koran in Iraq. According to Iraqi law, blasphemy can be punished to three years’ imprisonment. Burning the Koran can be equated with blasphemy.
Money for living from Tiktok videos
Momika publishes videos about burning the Koran on the video service Tiktok and earns money that way, according to the Swedish news agency TT Aftonbladet in the published news.
– I don’t get any social benefits, so I support myself with that money. That way I can stand on my own two feet, says Salwan Momika in an interview with TT.
In the same interview, he assures that he is not going to stop burning the Koran, even though the actions are considered to have weakened Sweden’s security situation.
The fury that arose from the burning of the Koran in extremist Islamic circles has been one of the reasons why the threat assessment of terrorism has been raised in Sweden.
– I am not responsible for that. I only exercise my freedom of speech, Salwan Momika assessed in the interview.