Unrestrained Migration to Blame for Muslim Riots Over Burnt Quran in Sweden, Dutch Politician Says

Islamist-inspired riots broke out across half-a-dozen cities in Sweden last week, leaving at least 40 people, including some 26 police officers injured and 20 vehicles destroyed or severely damaged. The riots were triggered by plans by a local politician to burn copies of the Quran – the Islamic holy scripture – on Easter.

The violence witnessed in cities across Sweden between 15 and 17 April was a “direct result” of the country’s lax policy toward mass immigration, particularly from countries in the Middle East and Africa, Dutch politician and legal philosopher Eva Vlaardingerbroek has said.

“What you’re seeing here is just a perfect example of how a once safe country like Sweden has turned into a very dangerous country as a direct result of mass migration. Because let’s be real here for a second – even though yes, in this particular case there was a direct event that led up to it, which was the Quran burning, but this is not something that is new to Sweden. These riots happen very often”, Vlaardingerbroek said, speaking to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson on Friday.

The politician recalled that there are “dozens” of areas in the Scandinavian nation “where police virtually lost all control”, and that this took place long before Denmark’s Hard Line party leader Rasmus Paludan, who holds dual Danish/Swedish nationality, announced provocative plans to burn copies of the Quran in a heavily Muslim-populated area of Sweden.

She noted that swathes of the country contain immigrants from cultures which are radically different to those of Europe, and that these people have not integrated well into Swedish society. Many of the migrants coming to Sweden have respect for the local culture and for the West in general, Vlaardingerbroek said.

“And you know I’m wondering at this point: can we even blame them for that? Because how many people within the West even respect themselves? How many of us really still know what we are about and what we stand for? I feel like nowadays in the West, the only thing that we stand for is transitioning our kids and posting Ukrainian flags in our bio on social media”, she complained.

Vlaardingerbroek blamed Europe’s elites for the current crisis, suggesting that mass migration was part of a sinister plot to destroy the local social fabric, identity, and society of countries across the continent.

Swedish cities, including Stockholm, Malmo, Landskrona, Linkoping, Norrkoping, and Orebro were overwhelmed with Islamist-inspired riots last week over Paludan’s visit to the country for a Quran-burning event. Paludan’s party had held multiple Quran burnings between 2019 and 2020, characterising them as a protest against the Swedish government’s inability to integrate Muslim immigrants, and as an expression of “free speech”.

Muslim-majority nations have slammed Paludan’s actions, and the Swedish government for granting him permission for his publicity stunt. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that the “intentional repetition of anti-Islam blasphemous acts” during the holy month of Ramadan “hurt the sensitivities of Muslims both in Sweden and across the world”, and demanded immediate and severe punishment for Paludan, whom he characterised as “a Danish racist extremist element”.

Immigration Nation

Successive Swedish governments have encouraged mass migration, with nearly 20 percent of the country’s population of 10.2 million being foreign-born. Muslim Swedes comprise about 800,000 people, or 8.1 percent of the population.

The recent riots have sparked renewed debate about how to deal with immigrant enclaves. Last week, Sweden Democrat party leader Jimmie Akesson toured Linkoping and proposed a series of measures aimed at re-establishing order. Among other things, the party wants to give authorities the right to deport persons exhibiting anti-social and hostile behaviour, and to expel convicted criminals who are foreign nationals, as well as members of their families. The party is also calling on mosques to be shut down if they are involved with extremism. The Liberals party rejected the Sweden Democrats’ proposals, calling them “totally unacceptable” and contrary to the Swedish way of life.

Swedish authorities have condemned Paludan – who was initially given permission to hold his Quran burning event – for “incitement against an ethnic group”, and criticised rioters for the violence. Paludan has promised more Quran burnings in the future. Over 35,000 people have signed a petition to designate Quran-burning as a hate crime.