Sweden: Another Koran Burning

Rock throwing protester arrested

-Aftonbladet

Today, there was another Koran-burning in Stockholm. This was carried out by an Iraqi identified as Salwan Momika and another unidentified man outside a mosque in central Stockholm. Several Muslims verbally protested, but only one man was arrested after he threw rocks at Momika. Whether Momika will face any charges is questionable since the Swedish courts have ruled that police cannot deny someone's right to burn a Koran. Other related charges are being considered.

The Turkish government has reacted angrily, and, of course, this further jeopardizes Sweden's chances of getting Turkey's yes vote as to NATO membership.

The below article from Aftonbladet is translated by Fousesquawk. The video in the article is pending translation into English subtitles.

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/nQl6VL/en-person-har-omhandertagits-under-koranbranningen

Koran burner suspected of incitement against ethnic group

Ebba Torstensson, Nivette Dawod, Amanda Hällsten

Updated 17:17, Posted 13:53

A man was taken into custody by police when he tried to throw rocks at a Koran burning that took place at the mosque on Medborgare Square in Stockholm.

Salwan Momika, who carried out the Koran burning, is suspected now of incitement against an ethnic group and violating the ban on fires 

It was the first authorized Koran burning in Stockholm since the Administrative Court ruled that police had erred when they denied permission last winter.

Around lunchtime, people began to gather around the planned site of the demonstration at Stockholm's mosque on Medborgare Square in central Stockholm, where 37-year-old Salwan Momika was allowed to burn a Koran at 13:30.

Shortly thereafter, police took a man into custody who tried to resist.

"He tried to throw rocks, but he was stopped before he could throw (them)," says police press spokesperson, Helena  Boström Thomas.

On a later occasion, the man returned to throw stones again. This time, he succeeded but was taken into custody quickly thereafter. He is suspected of attempted assault.

Caption: A man taken into custody by police in Stockholm.

Shouted abuse

The organizer, Salwan Momika, comes from Iraq and wants to direct criticism at Islam by burning Korans. Before the acts, he told TT (news):

"We come to burn Korans. We come to say,  Wake up, Sweden. This is democracy. It is in danger if they say we cannot do this".

During the initial part of the gathering, there were about 200 people in the audience at the location, including a large media presence, according to police information.

Several of the spectators were upset and shouted abuse at Salwan Momika and the aide who stood next to him.

”Terrorist”

Among other things were shouted, "terrorist" and "skäll*, nobody can hear you", but also insults, which Salwan Momika answered from his megaphone. * skäll- to scold or to tell off, but not easily translated to English in this context (translator).

The 37-year-old played the Swedish national anthem, and waved the Swedish flag before he continued by tearing out pages from the Koran, laying bacon on several of the pages, and putting out a cigarette inside the Scripture.

When he then lit the Koran on fire, one of the demonstrators shouted," The Koran isn't in your hands, it is in our hearts, we know it by heart."

Passed out chocolates

Several people tried to calm the mood, which was tense at times, by passing out chocolates, among other things.

"It is my duty as a Muslim to participate here and show what our religion is about. I am trying to calm the mood, even if I myself am angry over this Islamophobia. But the right way to show what I feel is through peaceful actions," said 35-year-old Husam el-Gomati, who on his own initiative, bought over 6,000 kronors worth of chocolates to pass out.

"We usually pass out sweets on the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is today. We also usually grill lamb, but that might not look so good with a grill here, and there is a ban on fires, " he said laughing.

Incitement against ethnic group

At 15:15, police reported that the gathering was carried out without disorder and that a report had been filed against the organizer, Salwan Momika.

In the report, there are two crime classifications, according to the police press release. Partially incitement against an ethnic group since the Koran was outside a mosque, and partially violation of the ban on fires.

Prior to the actions, police reported that Momika would be fined for breaking the ban on fires, but that his application for a demonstration permit could not be denied due to freedom of speech.

"Constitutional protection trumps the regulation on fire bans," said press spokesperson, Helena Boström Thomas to Aftonbladet.

Caption: Salwan Momika