The Swedish Immigration Agency announced on Thursday that it had decided to deport an Iraqi man who had set fire to copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, during demonstrations in recent months in Stockholm, but the decision will not be implemented because the man flees the risk of being tortured if he returned to his country.
In August, Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level and issued warnings of increased threats against Swedes at home and abroad after the Koran burnings sparked outrage among Muslims and triggered threats from part of the jihadists.
Many of the actions have been led by Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee who says he wants to protest the entire institution of Islam and ban its holy book.
“Yesterday the Immigration Agency decided to review his status and residence permit and decided that he should be deported,” a spokesperson for the Swedish Immigration Agency told Reuters.
The spokesperson said the reason for the decision was that the man had provided false information on his residency application.
According to the spokesperson, however, Sweden will not be able to comply with the expulsion order as the man could be tortured and subjected to inhuman treatment if sent to Iraq. If the situation changes, the man will be deported, he added.
In July, the agency said it was reevaluating Momika’s residence permit.
“I will not leave Sweden. I will live and die in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency has made a serious mistake. I suspect there are hidden political reasons behind this decision. I will appeal,” Momika told Swedish public broadcaster SVT .
Anti-Islam activists have burned numerous copies of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark, two of the most progressive countries in the world that allow scathing criticism of religion in the name of freedom of expression. Many Muslims, however, consider desecration of the Quran a serious crime, as they consider the book to be the literal word of God.
Last week, a Tunisian gunman killed two Swedish fans in Brussels, in an attack that Sweden’s prime minister said shows Europe needs to beef up security to protect itself.
The attacker identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility in a video posted online.
Source: Terra

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