Iraqi authorities are preparing official documents for the extradition of Salwan Momik, an immigrant from Iraq, who committed the act of burning a copy of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims, in Stockholm. If he is extradited to Iraq, he could face up to three years in prison. A spokesman for the country's Supreme Judicial Council said Friday.
"The chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council [of Iraq] has instructed the prosecutor's office, together with the judiciary, to complete the legal procedures for the extradition request for a refugee of Iraqi origin who burned a copy of the Quran in Sweden," said a representative of Iraq's highest court, cited by Shafaq News. He added that the request will be prepared and sent in accordance with the country's penal code.
As the Supreme Judicial Council explained, "even if the crime was committed outside Iraq, but had an impact inside the country, the perpetrator may be tried on Iraqi territory if extradited." If Momica is handed over to the Iraqi authorities, "he will be charged under the article on blasphemy, which, according to the Iraqi Penal Code, carries a sentence of up to three years in prison."
The spokesman explained that if Sweden refuses to extradite the Iraqi immigrant, Baghdad has the right to sue Stockholm "for violating the International Convention on Interpol and the UN Charter."
He pointed out that if the case takes such a turn, Baghdad should win the lawsuit because, he said, "the act committed by the criminal affects the sovereignty of Iraq."
On Thursday evening, the Swedish ambassador was summoned to the Iraqi foreign ministry, where she was handed a note of protest. Iraqi authorities have demanded that Stockholm extradite the immigrant, an Iraqi by nationality, who burned several pages of the Quran in Stockholm to be tried on Iraqi soil.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: ErikaWittlieb\Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS