Sweden riots: who's burning Quran? Rasmus Paludan, Stram Kurs, anti-immigrant politics explained

Sweden continues to remain in news after fierce riots sparked by a political party's plan to burn the Quran. The Swedish government has condemned the violence, while claiming that the Quran burning events are freedom of speech, even if in "bad taste".

So, who is behind the provocative programmes, leading to violence by counter-protestors? The events have been planned by a Danish far-right political party called 'Stram Kurs', or Hard Line. Stram Kurs has been accused of creating divisions by following an anti-Islam, and anti-immigrant ideology.

The party is led by Rasmus Paludan, a Danish-Swedish politician and lawyer. 40-year-old Paludan has been convicted in the past for making racial insults, as per reports. In 2020, he had reportedly been arrested in France, and deported. Paludan has reportedly burned copies of the Quran in the past too.

He is reportedly planning to contest the legislative elections in Sweden in September 2022. He is yet to secure the necessary number of signatures to confirm his candidature in the Swedish elections, according to reports.

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