Turkey has issued an arrest warrant for Danish-Swedish politician and Koran-burner Rasmus Paludan.
– I laugh, Paludan comments on the move.
The background is that Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran at the Turkish embassy in Stockholm in January this year, with the express purpose of standing up for freedom of expression.
The action infuriated the Turkish political leadership, which demanded that Sweden change its legislation and in effect introduce blasphemy laws, and if Sweden did not comply with Turkey’s request, the country would not approve Sweden’s NATO application.
The country has now issued an arrest warrant for Rasmus Paludan, according to TT. The reason given is that he burned the Muslim holy book in front of the Turkish embassy and “publicly insulted religious values”.
However, the provocateur Paludan himself says he “laughs” at the decision and also points out that he has always obeyed Swedish law – and that the charges against him have been dropped.
– I have no plans to come to Turkey. I didn’t have any before either, I can tell you.
Paludan believes that President Erdogan needs to learn that different countries have different laws and customs, and that Nordic countries do not need to pay attention to Turkish legislation.
– If you are in Denmark or Sweden, you follow the law that applies there. That’s how it works. I don’t have to follow Turkish law in Sweden.
Rasmus Paludan also points out that Turkey’s actions clearly show how the legal system differs radically between different countries. But if representatives of the Turkish justice system contact him, he has no objection to talking to them.
– If they want to question me, they can call me. I don’t usually hang up, but I would probably laugh if they contacted me.
