No Extradition to Iraq Because Quran Desecration Not A Crime in Sweden: Lawyer
The Baghdad government has asked for extradition of Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, who stoked international outrage by desecrating the Holy Quran, he and his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Earlier, Swedish police questioned Momika in connection with the extradition request.
“To be extradited to another country, the law (in Sweden) dictates that the crime has to be a crime in both Sweden and Iraq,” David Hall, the lawyer, said.
Burning a holy book “is not a crime in Sweden, so it’s not possible for Sweden to extradite him”, Hall said.
The Swedish government has condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran, but has cited the country’s laws regarding freedom of speech and assembly as a pretext for allowing it to happen.
Momika has burned the Holy Quran at a slew of protests in Sweden since June, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation in Muslim countries.
Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July, starting fires within the compound on the second occasion.
Source: dawn.com
