Sweden Withdraws Residence Permit of Quran-Burning Protester

Sweden has revoked the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran, but his deportation has been put on hold due to safety concerns.

Sweden has reportedly withdrawn the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran this year. However, his deportation has been put on hold due to concerns that his life would be in danger if he were returned to Iraq.

The Decision

The decision to withdraw Salwan Momika's residence permit was made this week by Sweden's Migration Agency after determining that he had provided false information in his application for asylum. An order of deportation was issued but was placed on hold for security reasons, according to a Migration Agency official.

The Controversy

Momika, who was granted a residence permit in 2021, angered Muslims both in Sweden and abroad with anti-Islam protests in which he burned or otherwise desecrated the Quran. Swedish authorities allowed his demonstrations, citing freedom of speech, but his actions raised alarm among government and security officials who warned they could make Sweden a target for Islamic extremists. Swedish police also filed preliminary hate speech charges against him.

The Aftermath

Last week, two Swedish soccer fans were killed before a match in Brussels in an attack by a gunman who specifically targeted Swedes. Belgian authorities said the alleged gunman, who was shot dead by police following a manhunt, posted a video online after the attack in which he said the Quran was "a red line for which he is ready to sacrifice himself."

Momika's Response

Momika, for his part, has said that he didn't want to put Sweden at risk and was exercising his right to criticize Islam under freedom of speech. He told Swedish broadcaster TV4 that he would appeal the decision to withdraw his residence permit. "They want me to leave the country," he was quoted as saying. "They told me to find a country that can receive me; otherwise it's Iraq."

The Future

Momika has denied having given false information in his asylum application, and he has no plans to leave Sweden. Meanwhile, the Migration Agency has declined to provide details on what information in the application was false. The case highlights the complex issues surrounding freedom of speech, religious sensitivities, and national security in Sweden and beyond.