Danish far-right leader burns Muslim holy book under police protection in Sweden

By Atila Altuntas

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AA) - The leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party burned another copy of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, on Thursday under police protection in Sweden.

Rasmus Paludan, who has dual Danish and Swedish nationality, has recently burned copies of the Quran in the Frölunda, Boras and Trollhättan regions of the southwestern province of Västergötland, which are inhabited by Muslims.

Around 100 police officers as well as 10 plainclothes officers from the Swedish intelligence agency SAPO have accompanied Paludan to protect him against counter-demonstrators.

Paludan has burnt the holy book in various cities in Denmark since 2017.

He continued his provocations under police protection during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this year near Muslim populated neighborhoods and mosques.

Riots broke out in the cities Malmo, Norrkoping and Jonkoping as well as in the capital Stockholm, leaving 125 police vehicles damaged and 34 officers injured, while 13 people were detained.