Sweden suspends jail for Quran-desecrating extremist

On Monday, October 6, 2025, Sweden’s Court of Appeal partially acquitted Rasmus Paludan, a far-right activist who had been convicted in 2022 for hate crimes against Muslims due to statements he made while desecrating the Quran.

According to Reuters, the court suspended Paludan’s 4-month prison sentence; by acquitting him of one of the two charges, the court instead fined him 50 SEK per day (approximately $5.31).

Denmark and Sweden recently witnessed multiple incidents of Quran desecration, sparking outrage across the Islamic world and intensifying calls to ban such acts in European countries.

Paludan, a citizen of both Denmark and Sweden, has repeatedly desecrated the Quran.

Under Swedish law, incitement against an ethnic or national group—such as insulting or offending Muslims—is considered illegal.