Pars Today

In an unexpected turn of events, Sweden's Migration Agency has decided to expel an Iraqi man who desecrated copies of the holy Qur'an earlier this year after receiving approval from the Swedish authorities.

TV4, a Swedish media network, reported on Thursday quoting the Swedish Migration Agency as saying, "The Migration Agency has decided to expel the person from Sweden."

However, the Agency granted a temporary residence permit until April 16, 2024, due to "complications carrying out the decision," it added.

Earlier this year Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam refugee from Iraq, desecrated the holy Qur'an at a protest outside the Swedish parliament in Stockholm leading to outrage in the Muslim world.

Millions of Muslims across various countries including Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Pakistan, took to the streets to condemn the burning of the Islamic sanctities in Sweden. 

"I am not leaving Sweden. I will live and die in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency has made a serious mistake. I suspect there are hidden political motives behind this decision. I will appeal," Momika told Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

In recent years, Sweden has repeatedly permitted the burning of the holy Qur'an. While Sweden had said it has no plans to make sweeping changes to freedom of speech laws following several acts of desecration of the Muslim holy book, many Muslim countries have regarded the sacrilegious acts as instances of hate-mongering and inclination towards aggression that abuse the principle of free speech.

ME