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
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

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

PKK's surrendering of weapons underway in Iraqi Kurdistan

PKK disarmament in Iraq to take months: Turkey's AK party

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

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

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