A Swedish court on Monday found an anti-Islam campaigner guilty of hate crimes for organizing public burnings of the Quran after.
Due to the Quran burnings and his disparaging remarks about Muslims in the 2023 events, which caused turmoil and stoked resentment toward Sweden in Muslim nations, Swedish national Salwan Najem received a suspended sentence and fines, as reported by Reuters.
The ruling came five days after another man facing prosecution over similar incidents was fatally shot. Salwan Momika, an Iraqi immigrant and fellow anti-Islam advocate, was shot dead last week on the day he was scheduled to get his verdict in a related case.
Five persons were arrested but later freed, and no suspects have been charged in that murder yet. According to Sweden's prime minister, it might have been orchestrated by a foreign state.
The balance between the right to free expression and laws safeguarding ethnic and religious groups became a significant concern for Sweden, its Nordic neighbors, and other European nations as a result of the Quran burnings in 2023.
In a statement, the district court in Stockholm claimed that Momika and Najem, both 50, had desecrated the Quran in a number of ways and made derogatory remarks about Islam, its adherents, and mosque operations.
"Having expressed contempt for the Muslim ethnic group because of their religious beliefs on four occasions" was the reason Najem was found guilty of hate crimes.
According to Najem's attorney, he will appeal the decision.
"My client considers that his statements fall within the scope of criticism of religion, which is covered by the freedom of expression," he said.
After Momika was assassinated, the court dropped the case against him.
