A trial has begun in Sweden against a person who burned the Holy Quran

In 2022 and 2023, far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, leader of the "Hard Course" party, who burned the Holy Quran several times in 2022 and 2023, is on trial on charges of inciting ethnic hatred and insult. Fearing for his safety, he is attending the trial remotely. His whereabouts are kept a secret.

Hearings on the case of far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, who repeatedly lit the Holy Quran under police protection in Sweden, began on Monday, Arab News reports. The leader of the "Hard Course" party is accused of inciting ethnic hatred and insults.

During an Islamophobic protest in April 2022, he made hateful statements against certain ethnic groups and held nationalist rallies in several cities, including Malmö, where 20% of the population is Muslim.

In September 2022, Paludan was charged with insulting "Arabs and Africans", which carries a prison sentence of up to 6 months. In January 2023, he lit the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. His move led to a diplomatic row between Sweden and Muslim countries and resulted in the delay of Sweden's accession to NATO.

Paludan has not pleaded guilty to the charges. Fearing for his safety, he appeared in court via video link on Monday. The location of the criminal is not known.

Wilhelm Persson, professor of law at Lund University, said the importance of the first-ever Koran burning trial. He noted that if the Supreme Court makes a guilty decision, it will create a judicial precedent.