Rasmus Paludan

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Rasmus Paludan is a Danish-Swedish politician and lawyer who founded and leads the far-right Danish party Stram Kurs. He was born on January 2, 1982, in North Zealand, Denmark, and has Danish and Swedish citizenship.

Paludan’s politics focus on anti-Islam and anti-immigrant ideas. Stram Kurs calls for banning Islam in Denmark and deporting many non-Western immigrants. Because of these views, he is widely described by researchers and media as far-right and extremist.

He became famous for provocative demonstrations in Denmark and other countries. He has burned or insulted copies of the Quran and held events in areas with many Muslim residents. He often posted videos of these demonstrations on the Stram Kurs YouTube channel, which YouTube shut down in 2020 for harassment and hate speech.

Paludan’s actions have sparked controversy and violence. Quran burnings in Sweden in 2022 and 2023 led to riots. In 2023, a Quran burning in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm contributed to political tension with Turkey and affected Sweden’s NATO membership talks. Turkey later issued an arrest warrant for Paludan for “insulting religious values.” In 2024 he was convicted in Sweden for remarks and received a prison sentence.

He has faced multiple legal problems in Denmark and abroad. In 2019 he received a 14-day suspended prison sentence for violating Denmark’s hate-speech laws. In 2021 he was found guilty of racist statements, receiving a conditional prison term and damages payments. He has also faced cases over defamation, traffic offenses, and other disputes. He has often been under police protection because of threats against him, and the police protection costs have been a public topic of debate.

Paludan has two nationalities and has been involved in politics in several ways. Before starting Stram Kurs in 2017, he was linked with other parties and movements, ran in local elections, and even helped in some legal cases. In 2019 his party won about 1.8% of the national vote, falling short of the threshold for a seat in parliament, but the demonstrations and media attention raised his profile.

Outside politics, Paludan has worked as a lawyer. He has represented asylum seekers in some cases and has been involved in media projects, including the Voice of Freedom channel. He founded the Church of Saint James the Moor-slayer and declared himself Archbishop, a move that drew additional controversy.

Paludan’s supporters view him as a defender of free speech and a critic of Islam and immigration; critics describe him as promoting racism and division. His activities have kept him at the center of debates about freedom of expression, public order, and how to handle controversial speech.