2022 Sweden riots
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(3 days)
| 2022 Sweden riots | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 15–17 April 2022 (3 days) | ||
| Location | Sweden | ||
| Resulted in | Charges brought against both rioters[1] and Rasmus Paludan[2] | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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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. The motivation for the violence was ostensibly Paludan's plan to burn a Quran; however, the police suspect that the event was used by criminal groups to target police.[6] Two-thirds of those injured were police officers.[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.[8] His views have been characterized as anti-Islamic, and he has called for the deportation of Muslims from Western society.[9][10] He has previously been convicted for hate speech and defamation in Denmark and was previously banned from entering Sweden for his role in inciting the 2020 Sweden riots.[11] However, after receiving Swedish citizenship through his father, he could not be banned from entering the country which allowed him to continue his activities in Sweden.[12]
According to a 2017 Pew Research estimate, Sweden is home to about 800,000 Muslims, primarily from immigration. Sweden's immigration policy has been criticized for failing to integrate immigrants, and there has been conflict between Muslims and the country's police force.[13] Some Muslims felt outraged by the Quran burnings and associated rallies.[8][14]
According to Paludan, the purpose of the Quran burnings was to protest the Swedish government's inability to integrate immigrants into Swedish society and defend freedom of expression.[15]
Timeline
In April 2022, Paludan applied for permission for several rallies in Sweden which involved Quran burning. Regional police permitted some rallies and banned or moved others, depending on local circumstances.[15][16]
On 14 April, crowds rioted in the city of Linköping, attacking police vehicles and burning a car. Twelve police officers were injured and four of their cars set on fire by angry mobs in Örebro. Social media posts showed men breaking the windows of police cars as they screamed the Takbir.[17] Paludan successfully burned a Quran the next day in Rinkeby, causing more riots.[18]
An attempt to hold a gathering in Malmö on 16 April by Paludan was interrupted after people threw stones. Paludan was hit by a rock and the attackers were driven off with pepper spray.[19] Rioters also torched a bus in the city overnight.[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.[19] Police fired at them with ricochets in response, injuring three.[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.[22][13][23]
More than 200 people were involved in the violence and more than 40 people were arrested.[24] At least 104 police officers[25] and 14 members of the public were injured and more than 20 vehicles were damaged or destroyed.[24] At least one uninvolved civilian was also injured.[18]