Sweden jails activist who burned Quran for inciting hatred – DW – 11/05/2024
www.dw.com
Far-right activist Rasmus Paludan caused outrage when he burned a copy of the Quran in 2022. A judge said his actions went beyond reasonable criticism of Islam and were intended to defame Muslims.

Summary

A Swedish court sentenced far-right activist Rasmus Paludan to four months in jail for inciting hatred against Muslims after he burned a Quran at two protests in Malmo in 2022.

The court ruled that Paludan’s remarks and actions went beyond permissible criticism of Islam, aiming instead to insult and defame Muslims, Arabs, and Africans. Paludan, a dual citizen of Sweden and Denmark, plans to appeal the verdict.

His Quran burnings previously strained Sweden’s relations with Turkey, complicating Sweden’s bid to join NATO.

  • yesman@lemmy.worldEnglish
    53·
    9 days ago

    Why does “freedom of expression” always mean “let’s hear the Nazi out” in practice?

    Is it equivalent to burning the cross? The Swedish flag?

    Not all flammable things are the same. The flag and cross are literal symbols of State power in Sweden, the Quran is a book that’s only precious to an oppressed minority.

    I don’t feel like someone burning my symbol or flag should be punished with prison

    I wanna stress that the people sentencing this man to jail are not the same as the people offended by the burning. This power dynamic is important.