On Monday, a Swedish court handed down a suspended sentence and a fine to an anti-Islam activist after finding him guilty in a hate speech case.
According to the Stockholm District Court, Swedish citizen Salwan Najim was convicted on four counts of inciting hatred against the Muslim community.
Najim’s associate, Salwan Momika, was involved in burning the Holy Quran. Last week, he was shot and killed at a time when the final verdict in his case was due to be announced.
What Did the Court Say?
The Stockholm court stated that both Najim and Momika were involved in desecrating the Quran and making offensive remarks against Islam, its representatives, and mosque activities.
Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported, “The court’s reasoning is that the act of burning the Quran has clearly exceeded the limits of objective debate and criticism.”
The court also stated that such actions were deliberately intended to spread hatred against the Muslim community.
In a statement, Chief Judge Göran Lundahl emphasized that while freedom of speech allows for criticism of religion, “it does not grant anyone unlimited permission to say or do anything that poses a risk of distressing the believers of that faith.” The statement was published on Sweden’s judicial website.
The statement further noted, “The offense of inciting tensions within a community imposes limits on freedom of speech. Therefore, the application of punitive measures must be exercised with restraint.”
Najim’s Lawyer to Appeal
Najim’s lawyer told Reuters, “My client believes that his statements fall within the scope of religious criticism, which is protected under freedom of speech.”
In 2023, incidents of Quran burning in Sweden sparked debates over the balance between freedom of speech and the rights of religious communities. Many Arab and Muslim countries condemned the act, straining their diplomatic relations with Sweden.
In August last year, charges were filed against Momika and his “co-protester” Salwan Najim for inciting tensions within an ethnic group.
Liberty News international correspondent reports that the charge sheet states that Momika repeatedly desecrated the Quran, including setting it on fire. During these acts, he also made derogatory remarks against Muslims. On one occasion, he organized a protest in front of a mosque in Stockholm.
LND/SAKIB
