Police accompany Mumika in the vicinity of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm (Reuters)
An Iraqi named Silwan Mumika, who burned a copy of the Holy Qur’an last year in Sweden, announced that he had left for Norway to seek asylum there.
His departure to Norway follows the cancellation of his residence permit in Sweden, as the Swedish Migration Court last month upheld a decision to deport him issued in October of last year.
Silwan Mumika, a Christian who was a refugee for years in Sweden, repeatedly burned the Qur’an last year, which caused a wave of anger in the Islamic world.
The Iraqi refugee told Agence France-Presse that he arrived in Norway to seek asylum there, adding that he left Sweden because of what he called the persecution he was subjected to by government institutions there.
He also said that Sweden had become a threat to him since a decision to expel him was issued, and spoke of a threat to extradite him, referring to a request submitted by Iraq last month to extradite him, considering that freedom of expression and the protection of human rights in Sweden is a “big lie.”
In the summer of last year, Sweden witnessed several incidents during which the Qur’an was insulted in front of the embassies of countries, including Iraq and Turkey, which sparked widespread protests in the Islamic world, and prompted some countries to summon Swedish diplomats.
These incidents prompted Denmark to adopt a law criminalizing the burning of the Qur’an, while in July 2023, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a draft resolution submitted by Morocco that considers all types of violence against individuals because of their religious beliefs, holy books, and religious places in violation of international law.
Source: Agencies