(AFP) Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, who was shot dead late Wednesday in Sweden, stoked international controversy with his Koran burnings.
In June 2023, the 38-year-old with a chequered past sparked outrage when he stomped on the Islamic holy book and wrapped it in bacon before lighting a few pages on fire, slamming it shut and kicking it like a football.
Momika, along with co-protester Salwan Najem, went on to stage several similar protests, in one instance outside Iraq’s embassy in Stockholm — although he refrained from burning it on that occasion.
The Swedish decision to let his demonstration go ahead prompted Iraq to expel Sweden’s ambassador and revoke the license for telecom firm Ericsson to operate in the country.
