People like Salwan Momika aren’t born day-after-day. A former Iraqi militia chief, Momika turned a critic of Islam and gained world prominence and notoriety for championing free speech and public burning of the Quran.

Momika, a Christian who turned atheist, was amongst Islam’s fiercest critics.

On Eid, in June 2023, Salwan Momika surprised the world as he stomped on a replica of the Quran, the holy ebook of Muslims, after which burnt it in entrance of Stockholm’s largest mosque. A good friend of his filmed this act of defiance.

Radio Genoa on Tuesday reported that Salwan Momika had been found dead, solely to inform some moments later that additional affirmation was awaited.

“Those who announced Momika’s death with over 1 million impressions deleted the tweet. We are waiting for further confirmation,” Radio Genoa posted on X.

Earlier it mentioned: “The lifeless body of Iraqi refugee and Islamic critic Salwan Sabah Matti Momika has been found in Norway. Momika was known for organizing demonstrations in Sweden where he publicly burned the Koran several times.”

SALWAN MOMIKA FLED IRAN TO REACH NORWAY, VIA SWEDEN

Salwan Momika has been within the information after he shifted to Norway from Sweden. He was granted a Swedish residency allow in 2021.

Momika moved out of Iraq in 2018, looking for asylum. Though a Christian who turned atheist, Momika behaved like an excessive Ex-Muslim.

Ex-Muslims are individuals who identified as Muslims once, left the religion due to private causes, differing beliefs, or disillusionment with its teachings, practices, or neighborhood norms.

Facilitated by the web, a motion of Ex-Muslims has gained floor internationally.

“Today I left Sweden and am now in Norway under the protection of the Norwegian authorities,” Salwan Momika posted on March 27.

“I applied for asylum and international protection in Norway because Sweden does not accept asylum for philosophers and thinkers, but only accepts asylum for terrorists. My love and respect for the Swedish people will remain the same, but the persecution I was subjected to by the Swedish authorities does not represent the Swedes,” he added within the put up.

SALWAN MOMIKA, ISLAM’S VOCIFEROUS CRITIC

Sweden had confronted the anger of Islamic international locations for internet hosting Salwan Momika, the well-known and vociferous critic of Islam.

He referred to as the Quran, the holy ebook of the Muslims, the “most dangerous book of the world”.

“I will continue my struggle against Islamic ideology. Since I started the struggle against Islam, I have paid and continue to pay the price, and I am ready for that, whatever the cost,” Salwan Momika mentioned within the March 27 replace, stressing his resolve.

Sweden withdrew Momika’s residence allow however put his deportation on maintain, saying his life can be in peril if he had been returned to Iraq, in accordance to an Associated Press report.

Momika had staged a collection of public desecrations of the Quran in 2023.

Clashes broke out in Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest metropolis, in September final yr after an indignant mob tried to forestall Momika from burning a replica of the Quran.

Sweden allowed his protests on the aegis of free speech. But questions had been additionally requested if the Swedish authorities had gone too far by allowing Momkia to burn the Quran.

Momika’s burning of the Quran was termed “Islamophobia” by the Swedish international minister. Police had denied him permission for the act, however a court docket gave him the go forward primarily based on the rules of free speech.

Swedish police, nonetheless, filed preliminary hate speech fees in opposition to him.

Sweden’s Migration Agency determined to revoke Momika’s residence allow after discovering out that the Iraqi asylum-seeker had offered false data in his utility for asylum, in accordance to Swedish broadcaster TV4.

Unlike different religions, apostacy (leaving the religion) is punishable by demise in Islam. Those who surrender Islam largely do not reveal their determination, fearing assaults.

His anti-Islam stance and burning of the Quran was additionally perceived as a safety menace to Sweden. Officials thought his actions might make the European nation a goal of Islamist terrorists.

The fears weren’t unfounded.

Last October, two Swedish soccer followers had been killed earlier than a match in Brussels, Belgium. The gunman particularly focused Swedes, mentioned Sweden’s prime minister, in accordance to an Associated Press report.

The gunman was shot dead by police after a manhunt. Belgian authorities mentioned the attacker had posted a video on-line after the assault wherein he mentioned the Quran was “a purple line for which he’s prepared to sacrifice himself”.

Salwan Momika also provoked Palestine supporters amid the Israel-Hamas war by posting images of burning the Palestinian flag.

Last September, Iraq demanded Momika be extradited. He challenged the request saying Iraq was seking his extradition “in order that I will be judged and held accountable in Iraq in accordance to Islamic legal guidelines”.