Islam critic convicted of hate crimes in Sweden

Salwan Najem, an Islam critic whose fellow Qur’an-burning activist Salwan Momika was shot dead on January 29 in Stockholm, has been convicted of incitement against an ethnic group. According to the Stockholm district court on February 3, Najem “expressed contempt for the Muslim ethnic group” and “exceeded free-speech protections by a wide margin.” This went […]

Salwan Najem, an Islam critic whose fellow Qur’an-burning activist Salwan Momika was shot dead on January 29 in Stockholm, has been convicted of incitement against an ethnic group.

According to the Stockholm district court on February 3, Najem “expressed contempt for the Muslim ethnic group” and “exceeded free-speech protections by a wide margin.”

This went beyond a fair debate and critique of religion, the court found.

It did, though, also note that burning the Qur’an might not always be regarded as a hate crime and that it did not have any extra protection just because it was a sacred text for Muslims.

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Najem’s offending statements were made during four public events where Qurans were burned in Stockholm and led to public outrage within the Muslim community in Sweden and Islamic countries worldwide.

Many decried the burnings as blasphemous and an attack on their faith.

Najem was fined 4,000 Swedish Crowns (€450) and given a suspended sentence.

His lawyer has said he would appeal against the verdict, arguing that his client’s statements fell within the scope of criticism of religion, which is covered by the country’s freedom of expression laws.

The court was initially due to rule on the case on January 30 but, hours before revealing its judgment, co-defendant Momika was shot dead in his own apartment, leading to the postponement. (Brussels Signal)