Rasmus Paludan, a far-right Danish-Swedish politician and leader of the anti-immigration party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), was sentenced to four months in prison by a Swedish court for incitement against an ethnic group. Paludan’s conviction stems from his actions and statements during public demonstrations in 2022, where he burned the Qur’an, made inflammatory statements about Muslims, and used other provocative actions such as wrapping bacon around the holy book. This is the first time Sweden has sentenced someone for Qur’an burning during a permitted protest, marking a significant precedent in the country’s handling of free speech and hate crime laws.

Malmö District Court, presided over by judge Nicklas Söderberg, ruled that while freedom of speech allows public criticism of religions like Islam, Paludan’s actions went beyond lawful expression into direct incitement against Muslims as a group. Paludan, who has previously faced similar convictions in Denmark, was sentenced based on both his previous offenses and his actions at demonstrations in April and September 2022. His statements, including remarks that “Muslims do not like Western democracy and freedom of speech” and that they “use violence as communication,” were seen as harmful, inflammatory, and dehumanizing.

The sentence reflects Sweden’s growing scrutiny over hate speech and provocations that target religious and ethnic groups. Prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg stated that Paludan’s conviction illustrates boundaries for acceptable expression, underscoring that Sweden’s tolerance for freedom of speech does not permit public incitement against specific communities. Combier-Hogg emphasized that each case must be evaluated individually due to the complex nature of human communication and freedom of expression.

Paludan, who denies the charges, argued he was only criticizing Islam, not individuals. He has stated he will appeal the ruling, so his prison sentence is currently on hold. His actions and other similar protests have heightened domestic and international tensions, with recent Qur’an burnings in Sweden triggering diplomatic friction, especially with Muslim-majority nations. One such burning outside the Turkish embassy in January 2023 reportedly slowed Sweden’s path to NATO membership, intensifying debates on the limits of free speech in Sweden.