Last week’s demonstration outside Stockholm’s mosque on Södermalm has sparked anger around the world and several leaders have condemned the incident.
Now Salwan Momika and another man have been reported for incitement against a ethnic group.
Momika is also reported for violating the fire ban.
The demonstration took place in connection with the celebration of the Muslim holiday Eid in Stockholm’s mosque on Medborgarplatsen. A lot of people were therefore there and a fierce atmosphere arose.
A police employee who was on duty during the demonstration has drawn up a report, with several circumstances that he believes should be classified as incitement against a ethnic group.
Screamed that the audience would die
Salwan Momika and another man have filled the Koran with pork before lighting it on fire. In the report, it also appears that a person threw stones at them – and was then portrayed as a terrorist.
They are also said to have shouted that they wish the audience to die and expressed “that the prophet Muhammad is a pedophile, a murderer and other insults”.
Salwan Momika is also reported for violating the fire ban.
In connection with the application, he was informed that there is a fire ban. Despite that, he has torn out individual pages from the Koran, while lighting a fire.
The police have refused permission
No visible flames were said to have been seen but smoke rose from the sides before it was extinguished. The process must have lasted for 30-60 seconds, according to the informant.
The police have on several occasions denied permission for Koran burnings. In June, the Court of Appeal ruled that the police had no right to do so. On Monday, the police announced that the verdict will not be appealed, TT reports.
Last Sunday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry came out and condemned the Koran burnings and called it “an expression of racism and xenophobia”, something that is supported by Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).
Freedom of expression expert Nils Funcke, on the other hand, is critical of the Foreign Ministry’s actions.
– It is actually the government, not any individual party politician, that comes out and condemns an individual’s use of their freedom of expression. The person also had a police permit. If in that situation you put all your might into condemning this deed, then you have not taken freedom of expression as seriously as it deserves, says Nils Funcke to TT.
– I thought the government had learned from the concerns that arose in January. I don’t think we should engage in a discussion with Erdogan or anyone else about where the limits of freedom of speech should be.
Lives in secret location
After the Koran burning, Salwan Momika has received death threats, and now lives with police protection. To The evening paper he writes that despite this he does not regret the deed.
“I have never regretted it and have not done anything wrong, but acted with official approval from the court and the police according to Swedish law.”