Questions that the district court will need to take a stand on are partly questions of evidence and partly whether the limit of freedom of expression was exceeded when Rasmus Paludan, among other things, made statements implying that "Muslims like to use violence as a means of communication".
This was stated by Combier-Hogg during the hearing in Malmö district court.
The purpose of the law on agitation against a group of people is to protect vulnerable groups in the first place. It should not lead to the kind of polarization that occurred in the 1930s. It is important to remember.
The Prosecutor Interrupts
Paludan, dressed in a black suit, bright blue shirt, and orange tie, is not present but is participating via a link from another Swedish court. He initially sits with his head leaning against his right shoulder but then nods and interrupts the prosecutor:
That's a factual error, he says before the presiding judge asks him to wait with his comments.
Paludan denies the crime and contests the charges. In his defense, he claims that none of the statements referred to by the prosecutor were made through a megaphone, and therefore did not spread due to him.
Nothing I say without a megaphone is agitation against any group of people. It's criticism of Islam, he says.
Riots in Several Cities
Prior to the 2022 election, Paludan's ambition was to take a seat in the Swedish parliament with the far-right party Stram kurs, which failed.
He is now charged with two cases of agitation against a group of people and defamation. The charges concern events in Malmö in April and September 2022.
During the hearings, the prosecutor shows several films where Paludan, among other things, is heard saying that the prophet Muhammad was a rapist and that it is problematic if one strives to live like Muhammad.
Freedom of expression is about being able to say things that others don't want to hear. There are quite a few who don't understand that, says Paludan in one of the films.
"Arabs and Africans"
At another meeting in Malmö, he made statements about "Arabs and Africans". On the same occasion, Paludan directly addressed a person, which has led to him also being charged with defamation.
Monday's hearing in Malmö district court only covers the charge of agitation against a group of people. The trial will continue on Tuesday.
