Swedish prosecutors announced on Wednesday that they will try two men for desecrating the Holy Quran in incidents last year that sparked widespread condemnation in the Muslim world and heightened fears of attacks.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority charged the men with “offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group” for actions taken on four occasions, including outside a mosque and other public places. As a result of these incidents, Sweden’s domestic security service increased its terrorism alert level, while Denmark, experiencing similar incidents, amended its laws to prohibit such acts.
Read: Swedish Court Convicts Man for Desecrating the Holy Quran
“Both men are being prosecuted for making statements and treating the Quran in ways that clearly express contempt for Muslims and their faith on these four occasions,” stated Senior Prosecutor Anna Hankkio.
The prosecution’s evidence primarily includes video recordings of Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, as identified by Hankkio. Najem, however, has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Mark Safaryan, informed Reuters, “The permit for the demonstration aligns with my client’s intent. His actions are protected under the Swedish constitution.”
Read: Desecration of Holy Quran in front of Iraqi Embassy in Denmark Sparks Outrage
Momika’s attorney has not yet made any comments regarding the charges.
