Stockholm court gives Salwan Najem, whose co-defendant was shot dead last week, suspended sentence and fine

Summary

A Stockholm court convicted Salwan Najem of incitement against an ethnic group for his role in Qur’an burnings in 2023, sentencing him to a fine and suspended sentence.

His co-defendant, Salwan Momika, was shot dead last week, sparking concerns of foreign involvement.

The protests strained Sweden’s relations with Muslim countries and fueled debate over free speech limits.

The government had considered banning Qur’an burnings but is no longer planning immediate action. Sweden joined NATO in March 2024, partly fearing diplomatic fallout over the burnings could affect its bid.

  • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
    41·
    8 hours ago

    Some more contact from a Swedish perspective:

    These “Islam critics” often are critical of immigration and hold their demonstrations in immigrant-majority neighborhoods.

    “incitement against an ethnic group” is the legal term for hate speech.