Turkish court issues arrest warrant for far-right Danish politician Rasmus Paludan for burning the Holy Quran

ANKARA, July 21 (SABAH): A criminal court in Turkish capital Ankara has issued an arrest warrant for Rasmus Paludan, the leader of a far-right Danish political party for burning the Holy Quran in front of Turkey’s Stockholm Embassy in Sweden. The incident, which occurred on January 21, has prompted an ongoing investigation by Turkish prosecutors on charges of “publicly insulting religious values adopted by a segment of the population.” Rasmus Paludan would be arrested by the Turkish authorities if he enters in territory of Turkiye.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry earlier swiftly condemned the Holy Quran burning protest by Paludan, denouncing it as a “vile attack on our holy book.” A statement by the ministry expressed strong disapproval of the act, stating that it targets Muslims and insults their sacred values under the pretext of freedom of expression and called on Sweden to take appropriate measures against the perpetrators and urged all countries to take concrete actions to combat Islamophobia.

Rasmus Paludan, who also holds Swedish citizenship, is the leader of the Danish Strict Direction Party. The Quran-burning incident was not his first; he has conducted several similar demonstrations in the past.

Turkish prosecutors also requested an arrest warrant for Paludan to be taken into custody for questioning. The court reviewed the request and subsequently issued the arrest warrant against the Danish politician.

The investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Paludan on the charge of “publicly insulting the religious values” is ongoing.

As part of the investigation, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office requested Paludan’s arrest to obtain a statement regarding the Quran burning incident.

The Ankara 8th Criminal Court of Peace, upon evaluating the request, decided to issue an arrest warrant for the Danish politician.

Turkiye’s condemnation came after Paludan was given permission to burn the Muslim holy book outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.

In response to Sweden’s permission, Ankara cancelled Swedish Defence Minister, Pal Jonson’s upcoming visit to Turkiye.

Also, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Swedish Ambassador to Ankara, Staffan Herrstrom, who was told that Turkiye “strongly condemns this provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime, that Sweden’s attitude is unacceptable, that Ankara expects the act not to be allowed and insults to sacred values cannot be defended under the guise of democratic rights.”