The defendants appealed to freedom of expression. The summer 2023 jupakka caused a diplomatic crisis.
The two defendants who burned Korans in Sweden last summer have denied that they were guilty of crimes in the trial that started on Wednesday.
Salwan Momikaa and Salwan Najemia accused of incitement against a national group. The trial began surrounded by strong security measures at the Stockholm district court.
According to the indictment, both defendants burned Islam’s holy book, the Koran, outside the mosque in Stockholm’s Södermalm in June 2023. They had put pork inside the Koran and smoked cigarettes. According to the prosecutor, they also claimed that those who follow the Koran are dangerous and think terroristically.
In court, the prosecutor asked Momika the purpose of the act.
– Freedom of expression and conveying the message, Momika answered.
Najem also appealed to freedom of expression. The two said they met each other through Tiktok.
Iraqi-born Momika denied that the two had prepared the speech for the burning ceremony.
– There was no talk. Nothing was written. I spoke spontaneously.
The burning of the Koran caused strong reactions in the Muslim world in the summer of 2023. Hundreds of people stormed the Swedish embassy in Iraq in Baghdad, and Iraq severed diplomatic relations with Sweden. Many other countries also criticized Sweden for not preventing burning.
Incitement against a national group can result in a maximum of two years in prison in Sweden.