Quran-burning politician Paludan sentenced in Sweden for hate speech
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Swedish Chief Councilor Nicklas Soderberg told reporters that freedom of speech does not extend to incitement of hatred, especially when targeting specific ethnic and religious groups.
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A woman holds a photograph of far-right activist Rasmus Paludan during a small protest outside the Swedish consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, January 28, 2023. (AP)
Extremist Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan, notorious for his inflammatory Quran-burning demonstrations, has been sentenced to four months in prison by a district court in Malmo, as per local reports on Tuesday.
Paludan was found guilty of incitement against an ethnic group and racial insults toward Arabs and Africans during public gatherings in 2022, marking the first case in Sweden where a person has been jailed over Quran burning as an insult to Muslims.
The court ruled that Paludan's actions went beyond political criticism, stating they "cannot be justified as criticism of Islam or political campaign work."
Chief Councilor Nicklas Soderberg told reporters that freedom of speech does not extend to incitement of hatred, especially when targeting specific ethnic and religious groups.
"It is permissible to publicly criticize Islam and Muslims, but contempt for a group of people must clearly not exceed the limits of relevant and responsible discourse," Soderberg remarked.
Read more: Paludan vows burning Quran weekly until Turkey approves Swedish bid
Paludan, leader of Denmark's Hard Line (Stram Kurs) party, has denied any wrongdoing and intends to appeal the verdict.
His actions, including burning the Quran in various Swedish cities like Malmo and Linkoping in April 2022, incited widespread unrest, with violent protests erupting in response.
Paludan's demonstrations continued into 2023, sparking anger in Muslim-majority countries and prompting calls for international action.
International backlash
The Quran burnings, which Paludan claims were exercises in free speech, caused diplomatic tensions.
The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the incidents, urging member states to consider "appropriate political and economic measures" against Sweden, Denmark, and other nations where Quran burnings have occurred.
The OIC described these actions as "aggressive acts that spread hatred, threaten global peace, and disrupt harmony among religious communities."
In response, Denmark enacted a law last December banning Quran burnings in public spaces.
Read more: Paludan banned from entering UK after Quran-burning campaign in EU
