Police Justify Decision to Deny Permission for Koran Burning Due to Risk of Disorder
In a departure from previous decisions, the police have justified their decision to deny permission for a Koran burning at a chosen location by citing the risk of disorder. Constitutional law professor at Örebro University, Nergelius, emphasizes that the chosen place is what sets this decision apart from previous cases.
The police have offered alternative locations to the Koran-burner, Salwan Momika, but he has refused them. Nergelius asserts that the police have the right to do so under the Public Order Act, as it allows them to reject requests for public demonstrations. “The law has been followed to the letter,” Nergelius states.
Vilhelm Persson, a law professor at Lund University, agrees with Nergelius and suggests that the police have more grounds to make this decision now than before. He refers to the riots that occurred after Easter in 2022, where the police wanted to deny permission for Koran burnings in order to review their own organization and prevent further disorder. The court, however, overruled the police’s decision, arguing that it was the counter-demonstrators and not the initial applicant, Rasmus Paludan, who caused the problems.
The police’s decision was also questioned last winter when they refused permission for a Koran burning in Stockholm due to security concerns. “It is absolutely not a valid reason according to the Public Order Act,” Nergelius asserts, pointing out that the court rejected the police’s justification.
In early September, Salwan Momika burned a Koran in Malmö, triggering a violent riot in Rosengård. This incident has further contributed to discussions surrounding the permission for Koran burnings and the limitations imposed for public safety reasons.
It remains to be seen how this decision by the police will be received and if it will be challenged in court. The debate over freedom of expression and public safety continues to be a contentious issue in Sweden.