3 injured in clashes over far-right group’s Qur'an burning plan in Sweden

At least three people have been injured in fresh clashes between Swedish police and protesters in the city of Norrkoping over a far-right Danish group's intention to desecrate the Holy Qur'an.

As protests continued for the fourth day on Sunday, violent skirmishes broke out between supporters of the Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party and counter-protesters, leading to the arrest of at least 17 people.

"Three people seem to have been hit by ricochets and are now being cared for in hospital. All three injured are arrested on suspicion of a crime," police said in an online statement.

Police and counter-protesters in Sweden have been engaged in fierce clashes over the past few days.

The violence erupted on Thursday on the sidelines of a rally in central Sweden’s Muslim-dominated area by the anti-immigration and anti-Muslim party led by Danish-Swedish politician, Rasmus Paludan.

The far-right leader, accompanied by police, reportedly put a copy of the holy book on the floor and tried to burn it.

The blasphemous act prompted counter-protesters, around 200 people by local media’s estimate, to break into the rally and clash with the members of the far-right party and Swedish police.

The counter-protesters urged police not to allow Paludan to commit the sacrilegious act but the pleas were conveniently ignored, sparking violent clashes and stone-pelting.

Apart from Norrkoping and Linkoping, unrest and violent clashes have been reported in Stockholm, Orebro, Landskrona, and Malmo as well, after police ignored calls to stop the far-right demonstration.

Swedish PM backs far-right group’s intention to burn Holy Qur'an

Fierce clashes have broken out between police and protesters in central Sweden’s Muslim-dominated area during demonstrations against a far-right group

The violent clashes came after the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson came out in support of the far-right group, making remarks that have been deemed provocative.

“In Sweden, people are allowed to express their opinions, whether they are in good or bad taste, that is part of our democracy. No matter what you think, you must never resort to violence. We will never accept it,” he was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Swedish Justice Minister Morgan Johansson, in an interview with the daily Aftonbladet, asked the counter-protesters to “go home.”

He also depicted Paludan as a “right-wing extremist fool, whose only goal is to drive violence and divisions” but added that Sweden is a “democracy and in a democracy fools also have freedom of speech.”

Paludan is notorious for his anti-immigrant and anti-Islam activities. He has regularly been at the center of such incidents in recent years. In 2019, he wrapped the holy book in bacon and tossed it in the air.

In September 2020, the racist leader was banned from entering Sweden for two years. Later in October, he was prevented from coming to Germany after he announced plans to hold a provocative rally in Berlin.

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