2022 Sweden riots

Riots occurred in several Swedish cities in April 2022, primarily against police who were stationed to protect events planned by Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan.

[7] Rasmus Paludan is a Danish-Swedish politician and head of the Hard Line party, who has been known for staging similarly provocative events in the past.

Social media posts showed men breaking the windows of police cars as they screamed the Takbir.

[20][8] A ceremony to burn the Quran was set to take place in Landskrona, Scania, on 17 April, but was moved to Malmö by the police to prevent unrest.

However, rioters in Landskrona stoned and set fire to vehicles, causing extensive property damage and intentionally obstructing traffic.

[21] By the time the day had ended, widespread damage against both police and civilian property had occurred, including one school in Rosengård, Malmö, that had been set on fire.

[26] On 21 April, the Malmö Police announced that they would be reporting Paludan to local prosecutors for charges of "agitation against an ethnic group.

"[27] Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson insisted that "people are allowed to express their opinions, whether they are in good or bad taste, that is part of our democracy.

Manne Gerell of Malmö University further added that some of those involved in the unrest might have been seeking to vent general frustration against police, such as over the use of stop and search powers.

[36] The decision to allow Paludan to hold the demonstration attracted widespread condemnation from Islamic countries,[13][24][37] including Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan,[38] Indonesia,[39] Pakistan,[40] the United Arab Emirates,[41] and Saudi Arabia.

"[22] The Islamist Islami Andolan Bangladesh movement launched a major demonstration in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka in protest to the Quran burning as well as recent clashes in Jerusalem.

"[38] Chinese diplomat Wang Wenbin said that "Freedom of speech cannot be a reason to incite racial or cultural discrimination and tear society apart" and called for the Swedish government to "respect the religious beliefs of minority groups.