Danish Far-Right Leader Rasmus Paludan Burns Quran Again After Salwan Momika’s Death

Just days after the death of Salwan Momika, the Iraqi-born Christian refugee who sparked controversy in Sweden by burning copies of the Quran, Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan has once again desecrated Islam’s holy book in a public display.

According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Paludan took to social media platform X to announce that he had burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen. His act comes despite an earlier statement from Danish police prohibiting such provocations following Momika’s death.

Paludan, the leader of the ultra-right party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), has a history of inflammatory demonstrations targeting Islam. His latest action is expected to intensify diplomatic tensions, particularly with Turkey, which has repeatedly condemned European authorities for allowing Quran desecrations under the pretext of free speech.

Momika, who was killed on January 30, had drawn global attention in 2023 for staging protests in Sweden where he burned copies of the Quran. His actions, defended as freedom of expression by some but widely condemned as religious incitement, triggered international outrage, particularly in Muslim-majority countries.

Paludan, who holds dual Danish and Swedish citizenship, has previously been at the center of similar controversies. In January 2024, he burned a Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, an act that fueled diplomatic tensions between Sweden and Turkey at a time when Stockholm was seeking Ankara’s approval for NATO membership.

The Danish government has sought to balance its commitment to free speech with the need to prevent actions that could endanger public safety and international relations. Last year, Denmark and Sweden introduced measures aimed at curbing public desecrations of religious texts, but enforcement has proven difficult.