Man with boxing gloves seen punching Momica, who desecrated Quran, in viral video

Stockholm: A video circulating on social media shows a young man wearing boxing gloves attempting to attack Salwan Momica, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee who desecrated several copies of the Quran in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.

In the one-minute video, the young man can be seen confronting Momica and delivering punches while challenging him in Arabic. Despite Momica's attempts to defend himself using a banner, he was unable to escape the blows.

Momica's controversial actions first gained attention on June 28 when he desecrated a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm's largest mosque on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. He went so far as to place slices of ham on the Quran and step on it while mockingly uttering the phrase "Allah Akbar."

These actions led to swift condemnation from Islamic communities both locally and internationally.

In the most recent incident, on August 18, a woman took matters into her own hands by using a fire extinguisher to halt Momica's desecration of a Quran during a protest outside the Iranian embassy.

Salwan Momica's background further complicates the situation. An Iraqi refugee who arrived in Sweden in 2018, was granted refugee status in 2021. However, his involvement with a pro-Iranian militia group known as the Popular Mobilization Forces has raised concerns about his motivations.

He describes himself as an atheist, intelligent politician, thinker, and author on his Facebook page, adding another layer to his already complex identity.

The Swedish government finds itself in a diplomatic row with various Muslim-majority countries due to Momica's actions. The events have strained relations with these nations, who have expressed their displeasure and demanded action against him.

Swedish authorities are grappling with balancing freedom of expression with the need to maintain social harmony and international diplomacy.