Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian media reports: Israeli bombing targets Iranian Red Crescent building in Tehran
Trump: Unconditional surrender means I've had it
Trump: Nothing is too late
Trump: Iran should have negotiated
Trump: Iran wants to negotiate
Trump: Iran has a lot of trouble
Trump: Can't say whether US will strike Iran
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Tehran: Several locations in Tehran were targeted by Israeli attacks, including the central headquarters of the Iranian police command.
Sayyed Khamenei: Us knows that intervention in Israeli aggression on Iran will leave them damaged far more than they could do Iran.
Sayyed Khamenei: Israeli enemy committed a grave error, one it must be punished for.

Iraq seeks extradition of Quran burner from Sweden

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Sep 2023 23:15
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Swedish government has condemned the burning of the Quran, but upheld the country's laws on freedom of speech and assembly.

  • x
  • Salwan Momika is pictured outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, July 20, 2023. (AP)
    Salwan Momika is pictured outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, July 20, 2023. (AP)

Iraq's authorities have requested that Sweden extradite Salwan Momika, the Iraqi refugee who burned a copy of the Quran several times in Stockholm, Sweden. Momika's lawyer confirmed the request to the AFP news agency on Tuesday.

"Iraq wants him extradited because he burned a Quran outside the mosque (in Stockholm) in June," lawyer David Hall told AFP after Momika was questioned by the Swedish police over the extradition request.    

"To be extradited to another country, the law (in Sweden) dictates that the crime has to be a crime in both Sweden and Iraq," Hall said, adding that desecrating the Quran in Sweden is not considered a crime and thus it won't be possible for Iraq's request to be fulfilled. 

The Swedish government has condemned the burning of the Quran, but upheld the country's laws on freedom of speech and assembly.

"I don't understand why they (Iraq) bother with such a demand. I'm sure the Iraqi government understands this," Hall said.

Momika told AFP that Iraq was seeking his extradition, saying "so that I can be judged and held accountable in Iraq according to Islamic laws."

Related News

Hezbollah, regional media authorities condemn Israeli IRIB bombing

Al-Sudani to Pezeshkian: Iraq stands in the same trench with Iran

He added that he would file a complaint against Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein "because he committed a political crime against me."

Read more: The world reacts to Quran desecration, Swedish envoys summoned

Momika has ignited outrage by burning Qurans on multiple occasions in Sweden since June, leading to condemnation from Muslim countries. In response to these actions, Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July, causing fires on the second occasion.

This unrest prompted Sweden's intelligence agency to raise its terror alert level to four out of five in mid-August, considering the country a "priority target."

The Swedish government is exploring legal avenues to potentially restrict protests involving the burning of holy texts in specific situations.

However, it remains uncertain whether there will be sufficient support to change legislation.

Regarding Momika's extradition case, it is expected to escalate to the Swedish Supreme Court, and a final decision may take several weeks or even months, according to Hall.

Read more: Raisi describes Sweden's response to Quran burning as insufficient

  • Iraq
  • Quran burning
  • Salwan Momika
  • Sweden
  • Holy Quran

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

An Israeli occupation forces armored personnel carrier maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance downs Israeli drone in Gaza amid extensive ops

An Israeli Hermes 450 UAV drone flies over Beirut, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Politics

Iran reports shooting down 28 types of hostile aircraft in 24 hours

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran retaliatory strikes target greater Tel Aviv as injuries reported

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS