Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee known for his controversial protests involving burning the Quran, was found dead from gunshot wounds in his apartment in Hovsjo, Sodertalje, according to reports from Swedish state media on Thursday.

The incident occurred late on Wednesday, and while Swedish broadcaster SVT confirmed the identity of the deceased as Momika, the Swedish police have yet to officially confirm his death. Daniel Wikdahl, a spokesperson for Stockholm police, stated that one suspect has been detained for questioning in connection with the shooting.

Momika gained international notoriety in 2023 after he publicly set fire to copies of the Quran twice in Sweden. His first act was outside a mosque in Stockholm, and the second was near the Iraqi embassy, both of which were sanctioned by Swedish authorities under the banner of freedom of expression. These actions led to widespread condemnation and protests across several Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, where demonstrators attacked the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July 2023. The backlash was so severe that Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its own chargé d'affaires.

Following these events, in August 2023, Momika and another individual were charged by a Swedish prosecutor with "agitation against an ethnic group" due to their involvement in the Quran burnings.

An investigation into Momika's death is currently underway, with authorities working to piece together the events leading to this violent end. (ILKHA)