Rasmus Paludan

Paludan was born in North Zealand{{cite news |title=Overblik: Stram Kurs vil lede landet og forbyde islam |work=Jyllands-Posten |date=2019-05-07 |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE11364307/overblik-stram-kurs-vil-lede-landet-og-forbyde-islam/ |agency=Ritzau |archive-date=17 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517194956/https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE11364307/overblik-stram-kurs-vil-lede-landet-og-forbyde-islam/ |url-status=live |language=da}} and grew up in Hornbæk, Denmark.{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Christoffersen |title=Portræt: Rasmus Paludans endelige mål er sejr |work=TV 2 |date=2019-05-07 |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/2019-04-30-portraet-rasmus-paludans-endelige-maal-er-sejr |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920215501/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2019-04-30-portraet-rasmus-paludans-endelige-maal-er-sejr |url-status=live|language=da }} Rasmus Paludan is the brother of poet Tine Paludan and writer Martin Paludan, who was a former social media manager for The Alternative.{{cite news|url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludans-soester-har-droppet-kontakten|title=Rasmus Paludans søster har droppet kontakten|last=Tuxen|first=Mathias|date=2019-04-19|work=B.T.|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226223215/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludans-soester-har-droppet-kontakten|archive-date=26 December 2019|url-status=live|language=da}} Paludan's mother married his Swedish father, Tomas Polvall, in 1979{{cite web|last=Polvall|first=Tomas|date=2019-05-23|title=Tomas Polvall: »Min politiska uppfattning skiljer sig radikalt från Rasmus, men han bör bemötas med argument«|url=https://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/kultur/tomas-polvall-min-politiska-uppfattning-skiljer-sig-radikalt-fran-rasmus-men-han-bor-bemotas-med-argument|language=sv|work=Kristianstadsbladet.se|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012094608/https://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/kultur/tomas-polvall-min-politiska-uppfattning-skiljer-sig-radikalt-fran-rasmus-men-han-bor-bemotas-med-argument|url-status=live}} thereby acquiring the right to Swedish citizenship. Paludan became a student at Helsingør Gymnasium in 2000, where he was student council chairman for a period.{{cite web |url=http://xn--junibevgelsen-9fb.dk/j.dk/kandidat/rasmus_paludan/index.html |archive-date=23 May 2016 |title=Rasmus Paludan |work=Junibevægelsen |access-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523195359/http://xn--junibevgelsen-9fb.dk/j.dk/kandidat/rasmus_paludan/index.html |url-status=dead |language=da}}{{cite web |first=Jacob |last=Henriques |url=https://www.helsingordagblad.dk/2018/09/29/leder-deltag-ikke-i-paludans-cirkus/ |archive-date= 2 June 2019 |title=Leder: Deltag ikke i Paludans cirkus |work=Helsingør Dagblad |date=2018-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602163206/https://www.helsingordagblad.dk/2018/09/29/leder-deltag-ikke-i-paludans-cirkus/ |url-status=dead |language=da}} After high school he served his military service. Paludan began studying law in 2001 and in 2008 became a Master of Law from the University of Copenhagen. Paludan had the year's ninth highest grade point average after his Bachelor of Arts. However, a road accident in 2005 delayed his law studies.{{cite web |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/danskpolitik/paludan-hjerneskadet-efter-ulykke-har-svaert-ved-at-tolerere-menneskers-fejl/7615715 |title=Paludan hjerneskadet efter ulykke: Har svært ved at tolerere menneskers fejl |work=Ekstra Bladet |last=Nørgaard |first=Marie |date=2019-05-06 |archive-date=12 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612054130/https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/danskpolitik/paludan-hjerneskadet-efter-ulykke-har-svaert-ved-at-tolerere-menneskers-fejl/7615715 |url-status=live |language=da}} During his studies, he worked for Kromann Reumert in 2004 and the following year was an intern with the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.{{cite web |url=https://dk.linkedin.com/in/rasmuspaludan |title=Rasmus Paludan - Partileder - Stram Kurs |work=LinkedIn |language=da}}{{dead link|date=April 2024}} In 2014, Paludan was commissioned as a lawyer with the right to appear before the High Court. From 2015 to 2018, Paludan was employed as an external lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of Copenhagen, where several students complained to the student management about Paludan's teaching and behaviour.{{cite news |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/universitet-ansatte-paludan-som-underviser-trods-flere-aars-chikane-og |title=Universitet ansatte Paludan som underviser – trods flere års chikane og klagesager samme sted |work=Berlingske |date=2019-05-23 |last1=Holm |first1=Line Tolstrup |last2=Jessen |first2=Chris Kjær |last3=Jensen |first3=Henrik |last4=Pedersen |first4=Lars Nørgaard |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523132829/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/universitet-ansatte-paludan-som-underviser-trods-flere-aars-chikane-og |url-status=live |language=da}}

Both of his siblings have publicly distanced themselves from Rasmus Paludan's political messages and methods.{{cite news |title=Paludans bror deler opsigtsvækkende video: Stem ikke på Rasmus |url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/paludans-bror-deler-opsigtsvaekkende-video-stem-ikke-paa-rasmus |date=2019-05-28 |archive-date= 1 June 2019 |work=B.T. |last=Bengtsen |first=Kicki Søs |access-date=29 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601062757/https://www.bt.dk/politik/paludans-bror-deler-opsigtsvaekkende-video-stem-ikke-paa-rasmus |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has stated that those who know him know that he is "out of category".{{cite AV media |url=http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/ak-24syv/15315857/33:13/vaerst-klaedte-maend-mindesmaerke-for-det-hvide/ |title=Værst klædte mænd, mindesmærke for det hvide snit og kulturforbrugeren |work=AK24syv |date=2017-01-10 |time=35:00 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date= 2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013933/http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/ak-24syv/15315857/33:13/vaerst-klaedte-maend-mindesmaerke-for-det-hvide/ |url-status=dead |language=da}} Paludan has described himself as principled and added that he is so to such an extent that it has probably limited his circle of friends.

Paludan's road accident in 2005, in which he suffered a brain injury, has been claimed in court documents to have resulted in subsequent significant personality changes, including lack of ability to tolerate others' mistakes, depression, as well as a 25 percent loss of work ability.{{cite news|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/danskpolitik/paludan-hjerneskadet-efter-ulykke-har-svaert-ved-at-tolerere-menneskers-fejl/7615715|title= Paludan hjerneskadet efter ulykke: Har svært ved at tolerere menneskers fejl|date=8 May 2019|work=Ekstra Bladet|first=Marie|last=Nørgaard|language=da}} Paludan's father, however, rejects the idea that the accident caused any significant mental changes in his son.{{cite news|url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/rasmus-paludans-far-afsloerer-nye-detaljer-om-soennens-alvorlige-ulykke|title= Rasmus Paludans far afslører nye detaljer om sønnens alvorlige ulykke |date=1 June 2019|work=B.T.|first=Niels|last=Pedersen|language=da}}

In 2020, Paludan founded the Church of Saint James the Moor-slayer with himself as Archbishop, named after the Spanish legendary figure James Matamoros who helped the Christians conquer the Muslim Moors as part of the Reconquista.{{cite news|url=https://cphpost.dk/2020-10-23/news/lawyer-politician-religion-founder-now-paludan-wants-to-launch-a-crusade-from-his-own-church/|title= Lawyer, politician, religion founder: now Paludan wants to launch a crusade from his own church |first=Ben|last=Hamilton|work=The Copenhagen Post|date=23 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/kirke-tro/rasmus-paludan-grundlaegger-kirke-bliver-selv-aerkebiskop|title=Rasmus Paludan grundlægger kirke og vil selv være ærkebiskop|first=Philip|last=Christoffersen|work=Kristeligt Dagblad|date=23 October 2020|language=da}} He also attempted to register the church in Sweden in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.fokus.se/aktuellt/efter-valfloppen-paludan-blir-arkebiskop/|title=Efter valfloppen: Paludan blir "ärkebiskop"|first=Henrik|last=Sjögren|work=Fokus|date=15 September 2022|language=sv}} In August 2022, Paludan was accepted to study theology at the University of Copenhagen, but stated that he did not want to become a priest of the Church of Denmark,{{Cite news|title=Rasmus Paludan er optaget på teologistudiet|date=20 August 2022|url=https://www.kirke.dk/kort-nyt/rasmus-paludan-er-optaget-paa-teologistudiet|work=Kirke.dk|language=da}} since he is already Archbishop of his own church.{{cite news|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/paludan-begynder-paa-nyt-studie-vil-ikke-vaere-uvidende/9387697|title= Paludan begynder på nyt studie: Vil ikke være uvidende|date=20 August 2022|first=Nicklas|last=Krarup|work=Ekstra Bladet|language=da}}

Paludan has been a member of the Danish Social Liberal Youth and, according to the news agency Ritzau sat on the organisation's main board in 2003,{{cite news |url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-var-medlem-af-radikal-ungdom |title=Rasmus Paludan var medlem af Radikal Ungdom |work=B.T. |last=Brandsen |first=Mads |date=2019-04-18 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418062409/https://www.bt.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-var-medlem-af-radikal-ungdom |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |url=https://www.fyens.dk/indland/Radikale-USA-er-en-slyngelstat/artikel/387399 |title=Radikale: USA er en slyngelstat |work=Fyens Stiftstidende |agency=Ritzau |date=2003-08-21 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418104149/https://www.fyens.dk/indland/Radikale-USA-er-en-slyngelstat/artikel/387399 |url-status=live |language=da}} which has however been publicly denied by Rasmus Paludan himself, who stated that he was only on its board in Copenhagen.{{cite news |url=https://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/2023/12/24/anmeldelse-levebroedspolitiker-til-det-sidste/ |title=Anmeldelse: Levebrødspolitiker til det sidste |work=Frihedens Stemme |last=Paludan |first=Rasmus |date=2023-12-24 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418062409/https://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/2023/12/24/anmeldelse-levebroedspolitiker-til-det-sidste/ |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has also been a member of the Danish Social Liberal Party{{cite web |url=https://www.information.dk/indland/2005/10/rettelse-0 |title=Rettelse |work=Information |date=2005-10-11 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418104147/https://www.information.dk/indland/2005/10/rettelse-0 |url-status=live |language=da}} and in 2010 of Venstre. In 2009, Paludan ran for the European Parliament for the June Movement without being elected.{{cite web |url=http://junibevægelsen.dk/j.dk/kandidat/rasmus_paludan/index.html |title=Rasmus Paludan - JuniBevægelsen - JuniBevægelsen er nedlagt |publisher=JuniBevægelsen |archive-date=23 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523195359/http://xn--junibevgelsen-9fb.dk/j.dk/kandidat/rasmus_paludan/index.html |url-status=dead |language=da}}

In 2016, Paludan started attending meetings of the International Free Press Society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.information.dk/indland/2016/10/kan-rasmus-paludan-forsvare-udlaendinge-samtidig-vaere-pegida|title = Kan Rasmus Paludan forsvare udlændinge og samtidig være med i Pegida?|date = 21 October 2016|language=da}} In November 2016, he was appointed as a member of the Lars Vilks Committee.{{cite web |url=https://larsvilks.com/2016/11/22/komiteen-udvider-med-tre-medlemmer/ |work=larsvilks.com |title=Komiteen udvider med tre medlemmer |date=2016-11-22 |archive-date= 2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202113408/https://larsvilks.com/2016/11/22/komiteen-udvider-med-tre-medlemmer/ |url-status=dead |language=da}} In January 2017, Paludan said that he was a member of and a lawyer for the far right Islam-critical association For Frihed (formerly Pegida Denmark). Paludan has on several occasions given speeches at the association's events and participated in the association's demonstrations.{{cite news |url=https://www.tv2lorry.dk/artikel/demonstrationsballade-om-julepynt-paa-noerrebro |title=Demonstrationsballade om julepynt på Nørrebro |work=TV 2 Lorry |last=Nørtoft |first=Magnus |date=2016-12-03 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226230612/https://www.tv2lorry.dk/kobenhavn/demonstrationsballade-om-julepynt-pa-norrebro |url-status=live |language=da}}

In January 2017, Paludan said that he had been a member of the political party New Right since September 2016.{{cite AV media |title=24syv Morgen 06.05 03-01-2017 (1) |date=2017-01-03 |work=24syv Morgen |language=da}} Paludan was nominated by the party as a candidate for Copenhagen's Citizens' Representative on 28 January 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/reporterne/15551850/13:14/reporterne-10-02-2017-2/ |title=Reporterne: Interview med Rasmus Paludan |publisher=Radio24Syv |date=2017-02-10 |access-date=21 February 2017 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222113111/http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/reporterne/15551850/13:14/reporterne-10-02-2017-2/ |url-status=dead |language=da}}{{cite news |url=http://www.b.dk/politiko/han-ville-se-fremmede-fjenders-blod-i-kloakken-nu-er-han-fortid-i-nye-borgerlige |title=Han ville se »fremmede fjenders blod i kloakken«: Nu er han fortid i Nye Borgerlige |work=Berlingske |date=2017-02-17 |last1=Rohde |first1=Thomas Søgaard |last2=Bloch |first2=Cathrine |archive-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615122520/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/han-ville-se-fremmede-fjenders-blod-i-kloakken-nu-er-han-fortid-i-nye-borgerlige |url-status=live |language=da}} Some days later Paludan had to leave the party after its leadership became aware of a controversial speech Paludan had given at a demonstration organized by the association For Frihed in October 2016; in the speech, Paludan predicted civil war-like conditions in Denmark as a result of an invasion from "foreign enemies". According to the New Right's chairman, Pernille Vermund, Paludan had called for violence with the speech. Peter Seier Christensen, who is a co-founder of the party, also stated that he found the speech completely unacceptable.

{{blockquote|"Our streets and alleys will be turned into rivers of blood, and the blood of the foreign enemies will end up in the sewers where the foreigners belong."|Rasmus Paludan, speech for For Frihed, October 2016{{cite news |title=Paludan smidt ud af Nye Borgerlige |url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/paludan-smidt-ud-af-nye-borgerlige |date=2019-05-06 |work=B.T. |archive-date= 6 May 2019 |last=Karker |first=Andreas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506185114/https://www.bt.dk/politik/paludan-smidt-ud-af-nye-borgerlige |url-status=live |language=da}}}}

Subsequently, Paludan reported that he had joined the nationalist party Danish Unity. However, Paludan was never accepted into the party, as it found several of his statements "out of step with Danish Unity's basic view".{{cite web |url=https://dksamling.dk/nyheder/2019/rasmus-paludan-og-ds/ |title=Rasmus Paludan |work=Dansk Samling |archive-date=18 November 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118204151/https://dksamling.dk/nyheder/2019/rasmus-paludan-og-ds/ |language=da}}

File:20190613 Folkemodet Bornholm Rasmus Paludan Stram Kurs 0009 (48059392571).jpg

In July 2017, Paludan founded the Stram Kurs party. The party's main issues include a ban on Islam{{cite web |url=https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/hvad-staar-stram-kurs-for-her-er-partiets-politik |title=Hvad står Stram Kurs for? Her er partiets politik |last=Vilstrup |first=Sara Fleckner |website=Altinget.dk |date=2019-04-27 |archive-date= 6 May 2019 |access-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506162226/https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/hvad-staar-stram-kurs-for-her-er-partiets-politik |url-status=live |language=da}} and the deportation of up to half a million non-Western citizens.{{cite web |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/webfeature/stram-kurs |title=Historien om Stram Kurs: Youtube-fænomenet, der pludselig fik medvind og kom på stemmesedlen |work=Danmarks Radio |last1=Ringberg |first1=Jens |last2=Kristiansen |first2=Annegerd Lerche |archive-date=17 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517173932/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/webfeature/stram-kurs |url-status=live |language=da}} In 2017, Paludan ran for Stram Kurs in the municipal elections in Copenhagen without getting enough votes for a place in the Citizens' Representation.

After disturbances at Paludan's demonstration in Nørrebro in Copenhagen in April 2019 gave him massive press coverage, the party collected the necessary number of signatures to become eligible for the 2019 general election. The Copenhagen Post noted in May 2019 that "Paludan has become a paladin for some and sits at an astonishing 2.6 percent in the polls".{{cite news|url=https://cphpost.dk/2019-05-30/news/game-of-clones-the-battle-for-middle-ground/|title= Game of clones: the battle for middle ground |work=The Copenhagen Post|first=Christian|last=Wenande|date=30 May 2019|language=da}} Paludan and Stram Kurs received a lot of attention during the election campaign and obtained 63,114 votes, corresponding to 1.79% of the votes cast, slightly below the threshold of 2%.{{cite news |last=Ladefoged |first=Asger |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/63.114-vil-have-stram-kurs |title=63.114 vil have stram kurs |work=Berlingske|date=2019-06-09 |archive-date= 6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706110200/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/63.114-vil-have-stram-kurs |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan was the party's leading candidate in the Zealand constituency and received just under 10,000 personal votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/paludan-fik-femteflest-stemmer-i-sin-storkreds |title=Paludan fik femteflest stemmer i sin storkreds |work=Berlingske |date=2019-06-06 |archive-date= 6 July 2019 |agency=Ritzau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706110150/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/paludan-fik-femteflest-stemmer-i-sin-storkreds |url-status=live |language=da}} With his popularity among youth on YouTube, if only those aged 18 to 24 voted in the election, Stram Kurs would have received 11 representatives in parliament according to a poll. In December 2019, Paludan was ranked number 18 on Politiken's list of opinion leaders of the year.{{cite news |title=Se hele listen: Her er debattens superliga 2019 |work=Politiken|url=https://politiken.dk/debat/art7580834/Her-er-debattens-superliga-2019 |date=2019-12-27 |archive-date=29 December 2019 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229203228/https://politiken.dk/debat/art7580834/Her-er-debattens-superliga-2019 |url-status=live|language=da}}

One of the first times Paludan noticed himself in the media was in 2007, when he launched a website,{{cite news |title=Fra cykelstiens vogter til "Frihedens Soldat" |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE11322387/fra-cykelstiens-vogter-til-frihedens-soldat/ |date=2019-04-15 |last=Kristensen |first=William |work=Jyllands-Posten|archive-date=29 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829093105/https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE11322387/fra-cykelstiens-vogter-til-frihedens-soldat/ |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan: en vaskeægte trold |url=https://www.kommunikationsforum.dk/artikler/Faenomenet-Rasmus-Paludan |work=Kommunikationsforum |last1=Thielke |first1=Katrine |last2=Lorentzen |first2=Maia Kahlke |date=2019-04-15 |archive-date=12 June 2019 |quote=En af [Paludans] tidlige indsatser var siden kriminelle.dk [...] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612080520/https://www.kommunikationsforum.dk/artikler/Faenomenet-Rasmus-Paludan |url-status=live |language=da}} on which he published pictures of cyclists and pedestrians who violated the traffic law.{{cite web |url=http://politiken.dk/indland/art4701311/Hjemmeside-afsl%C3%B8rer-kriminelle-cyklister-is%C3%A6r-p%C3%A5-%C3%98sterbro |archive-date=26 December 2019 |title=Hjemmeside afslører kriminelle cyklister - især på Østerbro |work=Politiken |date=2007-07-03 |first=Olaf |last=Hergel |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226221548/https://politiken.dk/kultur/art4701311/Hjemmeside-afsl%C3%B8rer-kriminelle-cyklister-is%C3%A6r-p%C3%A5-%C3%98sterbro |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan said he did it to reduce the number of people killed in traffic and to make people think twice. In August 2007, Paludan was knocked down by a cyclist he had photographed.{{cite web |title=Manden, der jagter kriminelle cykelister slået ned |url=https://www.avisen.dk/manden-der-jagter-kriminelle-cykelister-slaaet-ned_65578.aspx |date=2007-08-15 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |work=avisen.dk |last=Rasmussen |first=Lars Igum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227164434/https://www.avisen.dk/manden-der-jagter-kriminelle-cykelister-slaaet-ned_65578.aspx |url-status=live |language=da}} The website no longer exists.{{cite news |title=Hun blev Paludans offer: »Jeg har det, som om han har nedkaldt en fatwa over mig« |url=https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/FV19/art7212761/%C2%BBJeg-har-det-som-om-han-har-nedkaldt-en-fatwa-over-mig%C2%AB |date=2019-05-27 |work=Politiken |last1=Hvilsom |first1=Frank |last2=Sjöberg |first2=Alexander |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628234441/https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/FV19/art7212761/%C2%BBJeg-har-det-som-om-han-har-nedkaldt-en-fatwa-over-mig%C2%AB |url-status=live |language=da}}

In 2008, it was reported in Jyllands-Posten that Paludan had reported a 21-year-old man to the police under Section 266 b of the Criminal Code for making offensive statements about homosexuals in a Facebook group.{{cite web |title=Bøsse-hader meldt for Hitler-udtalelse |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/politiretsvaesen/ECE3922662/B%C3%B8sse-hader-meldt-for-Hitler-udtalelse/ |work=Jyllands-Posten |archive-date=26 December 2019 |date=2009-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226234728/https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/politiretsvaesen/ECE3922662/B%C3%B8sse-hader-meldt-for-Hitler-udtalelse/ |url-status=live |language=da}}

In February 2016, Paludan brought a gun dummy to a meeting of the Lars Vilks Committee at Christiansborg.{{cite web |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/advokat-tog-attrappistol-med-til-lars-vilks-moede/5951569 |title=Advokat tog attrappistol med til Lars Vilks-møde |work=Ekstra Bladet |date=2016-02-14 |first=Josephine |last=Fogsgaard |archive-date= 2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202160117/http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/advokat-tog-attrappistol-med-til-lars-vilks-moede/5951569 |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan later said that it was part of the artwork Toys at Christiansborg; the work was intended to illustrate that the police react excessively to harmless incidents, while at the same time, they react unsatisfactorily to real terrorist threats. Paludan was questioned by the police but got his dummy back without being charged.{{cite web |url=http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/aflyttet/13781966/03:48/legetojspistoler-ttip-aftalen-og-smart-cities/ |title=Legetøjspistoler, TTIP-aftalen og Smart Cities |work=Aflyttet|publisher=Radio24syv |date=2016-06-05 |archive-date= 2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013936/http://www.radio24syv.dk/programmer/aflyttet/13781966/03:48/legetojspistoler-ttip-aftalen-og-smart-cities/ |url-status=dead |language=da}} Paludan said he had erected a similar piece of art in a shopping mall in Orange County, California; here he was interrogated by the police and also expelled from the shopping centre for five years.

In January 2017, Paludan introduced the media channel Voice of Freedom (Frihedens Stemme).{{cite web |author=Frihedens Stemme |url=http://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/2017/01/23/intro/ |title=Introduktion til Frihedens Stemme |date=2017-02-18 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226223344/http://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/2017/01/23/intro/ |url-status=live |language=da}} The media is registered with the Press Board,{{cite web |url=https://www.pressenaevnet.dk/hvem-kan-man-klage-over/ |work=Pressenævnet|title=Hvem kan man klage over |date=28 July 2016 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411172908/https://www.pressenaevnet.dk/hvem-kan-man-klage-over/ |url-status=live |language=da}} and Paludan is its editor-in-chief.{{cite web |url=http://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/om-frihedens-stemme/ |work=Frihedens Stemme |title=Om Frihedens Stemme |date=23 January 2017 |archive-date= 2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602083755/http://tv.frihedensstemme.dk/om-frihedens-stemme/ |url-status=live |language=da}} The Voice of Freedom also had a YouTube channel, and in a series of videos for the channel, Paludan has posed in front of the Youth House and other known sites associated with the radical left in Nørrebro in Copenhagen. In the videos, threatening situations occur, which lead Paludan to flee and call the police.

{{blockquote|"I see it as a civic duty to stand up in places where you cannot speak your mind for fear of being assaulted. And I feel that there has been a change. When I used to line up in front of BumZen in Baldersgade, I was attacked. I continued until I wasn't attacked, and this year I gave a speech in front of BumZen on the anniversary of the clearing of the Youth House, without anything happening. But it might have helped that there were 20 officers."|Rasmus Paludan, B.T., August 2018}}

On 25 January 2017, Paludan appeared at the People's House in Nørrebro to interview participants in the left-wing assembly, where one of the items on the agenda was a discussion of "the militant resistance". Paludan was told to leave the area and had to flee from shelling and threats of violence. The Copenhagen Police subsequently ordered Paludan not to approach the People's House for the next twelve hours for his own safety.{{cite web |last=Barfoed |first=Christian Krabbe |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2017-02-03-islamkritiker-gik-paa-gaden-med-kamera-og-mikrofon-maatte-flygte-fra-flaskekast |title=Islamkritiker gik på gaden med kamera og mikrofon - måtte flygte fra flaskekast og trusler om tæv |work=TV 2 |date=2017-02-03 |archive-date= 5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205182414/http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2017-02-03-islamkritiker-gik-paa-gaden-med-kamera-og-mikrofon-maatte-flygte-fra-flaskekast |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2017-02-04-venstre-kraever-borgmester-svar-efter-angreb-paa-islam-kritiker-ved-kulturhus |title=Venstre kræver borgmester-svar efter angreb på Islam-kritiker ved kulturhus |work=TV 2 |date=2017-02-04 |last=Barfoed |first=Christian Krabbe |archive-date= 9 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209232359/http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2017-02-04-venstre-kraever-borgmester-svar-efter-angreb-paa-islam-kritiker-ved-kulturhus |url-status=live |language=da}}

During 2018, Paludan became an internet phenomenon by holding a number of controversial demonstrations and uploading videos of them to YouTube.{{cite web |title=Fænomenet Rasmus Paludan |url=https://politiken.dk/tag/main/Rasmus_Paludan |archive-date= 3 September 2019 |work=Politiken |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903133704/https://politiken.dk/tag/main/Rasmus_Paludan |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has especially organised demonstrations in the country's "vulnerable residential areas", where he has made hostile statements about Islam,{{cite news |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2019-04-15-koranafbraendinger-og-kontroversielle-udtalelser-rasmus-paludan-gaar-paa-gaden |title=Koranafbrændinger og kontroversielle udtalelser - Rasmus Paludan går på gaden igen |work=TV 2 |date=2019-04-15 |last=Christensen |first=Cæcilie Dohn |archive-date=20 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120005545/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2019-04-15-koranafbraendinger-og-kontroversielle-udtalelser-rasmus-paludan-gaar-paa-gaden |url-status=live |language=da}} has spat on, thrown and burned the Quran and encouraged people to urinate on it{{cite web |url=https://www.24syv.dk/programmer/24syv-morgen/44552324/ekstremist-vil-tisse-pa-koranen/arkivlink |title=Ekstremist vil tisse på koranen |publisher=Radio24syv |work=24syv Morgen |date=2019-03-04 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418104148/https://www.24syv.dk/programmer/24syv-morgen/44552324/ekstremist-vil-tisse-pa-koranen/arkivlink |url-status=dead |language=da}} and has featured satirical drawings of Muhammad. Paludan has, for instance, referred to the Quran as "the great book of whores"{{cite news |title=Han bruger udtryk som 'luderbog', men ...: Det er slående, at Rasmus Paludan faktisk ikke benytter sig af ret mange skældsord |url=https://politiken.dk/kultur/art7204973/Det-er-sl%C3%A5ende-at-Rasmus-Paludan-faktisk-ikke-benytter-sig-af-ret-mange-sk%C3%A6ldsord |date=2019-05-20 |archive-date=20 May 2019 |last=Rathje |first=Marianne |work=Politiken |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520110314/https://politiken.dk/kultur/art7204973/Det-er-sl%C3%A5ende-at-Rasmus-Paludan-faktisk-ikke-benytter-sig-af-ret-mange-sk%C3%A6ldsord |url-status=live |language=da}} and Islam as "gay Islam".{{cite news |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-kastede-med-koranen-og-koebenhavn-endte-i-ildebrand-og |title=Rasmus Paludan kastede med koranen, og København endte i ildebrand og anholdelser: »Ytringsfriheden bliver misbrugt« |work=Berlingske|last=Reinwald |first=Tobias |date=2019-04-04 |archive-date= 2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902045241/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-kastede-med-koranen-og-koebenhavn-endte-i-ildebrand-og |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |url=https://www.helsingordagblad.dk/2018/09/29/rasmus-paludan-jeg-har-meget-imod-islam-i-danmark |title=Rasmus Paludan: "Jeg har meget imod islam i Danmark" |work=Helsingør Dagblad |last=Kuhlman |first=Victor |date=2018-09-29 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226224826/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.helsingordagblad.dk/2018/09/29/rasmus-paludan-jeg-har-meget-imod-islam-i-danmark/ |url-status=dead |language=da}} Many of the moves have been recorded and posted on Stram Kurs' YouTube channel, which as of April 2019 had more than 300 videos, some of which had been viewed over a hundred thousand times, with about 25 million total views in June, which was more than all other Danish political parties combined. The YouTube videos have especially experienced popularity with children and young people,{{cite news |title=Folkeskole forbyder Rasmus Paludans V for sejr-tegn |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/folkeskole-forbyder-rasmus-paludans-v-for-sejr-tegn |date=2019-06-02 |archive-date= 8 June 2019 |work=Berlingske |agency=Ritzau |quote=Mange af seerne er børn og unge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608191247/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/folkeskole-forbyder-rasmus-paludans-v-for-sejr-tegn |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2018-09-05-indvandrerkritisk-parti-gaar-paa-gaden-igen-og-igen-men-det-er-paa-nettet-de |title=Indvandrerkritisk parti går på gaden igen og igen - men det er på nettet, de bliver set |work=TV 2 |last1=Buch |first1=David |last2=Andersen |first2=Keld Vrå |date=2018-09-05 |archive-date=19 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119100202/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2018-09-05-indvandrerkritisk-parti-gaar-paa-gaden-igen-og-igen-men-det-er-paa-nettet-de |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=YouTube-nationalist hitter hos børn |url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/youtube-nationalist-hitter-hos-boern |date=2018-09-13 |work=B.T. |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |archive-date=29 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229213902/https://www.bt.dk/politik/youtube-nationalist-hitter-hos-boern |url-status=live |language=da}} who can also often be seen in the background at the demonstrations.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludans metoder skaber livlig debat om eksponering og forældreansvar |url=https://politiken.dk/kultur/medier/art6849910/Rasmus-Paludans-metoder-skaber-livlig-debat-om-eksponering-og-for%C3%A6ldreansvar |date=2018-11-16 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |work=Politiken |last=Mollerup |first=Alexandra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102151/https://politiken.dk/kultur/medier/art6849910/Rasmus-Paludans-metoder-skaber-livlig-debat-om-eksponering-og-for%C3%A6ldreansvar |url-status=live |language=da}} In 2020, the channel was shut down by YouTube, citing that their guidelines prohibit harassment and hate speech directed at individuals or groups based on race or religion.

File:Rasmus Paludan burning quran in 2019.ogv, Copenhagen in 2019]]

In April 2019, Paludan held a demonstration in Viborg, which led to chaos with the presence of about one hundred counter-protesters. Three people were arrested, and in June 2019, a 24-year-old Danish-Syrian man was sentenced to 60 days in jail, deportation, and a ban from returning to Denmark for six years for having thrown a rock at Paludan.{{Cite web|url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/lokalt/2019-06-25-mand-udvist-af-danmark-for-stenkast-mod-rasmus-paludan|title=Mand udvist af Danmark for stenkast mod Rasmus Paludan - TV 2|date=25 June 2019|website=nyheder.tv2.dk|language=da}}

Paludan's statements and methods have met with criticism from a number of politicians and media persons, while several of these have, however, defended his actions as a part of his right to express himself.{{cite web |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2019-04-14-politikere-fordoemmer-partistifter-og-uromagere-efter-soendag-i-paludans-cirkus |title=Politikere fordømmer partistifter og uromagere efter søndag i 'Paludans cirkus' |work=TV 2 |archive-date=17 April 2019 |date=2019-04-14 |last=Christoffersen |first=Philip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417081533/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2019-04-14-politikere-fordoemmer-partistifter-og-uromagere-efter-soendag-i-paludans-cirkus |url-status=live |language=da}} During one of Paludan's demonstrations in Nørrebro in April 2019, a counter-protest occurred, after which disturbances arose and several people were arrested.{{cite news |title=Familier har fået opsagt deres lejemål efter demonstration mod Rasmus Paludan |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/familier-har-faaet-opsagt-deres-lejemaal-efter-demonstration-mod-rasmus |work=Berlingske |last=Honoré |first=David Rue |date=2020-11-30 |archive-date=27 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227001720/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/familier-har-faaet-opsagt-deres-lejemaal-efter-demonstration-mod-rasmus |url-status=live |language=da}} In connection with this, the then Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, tweeted that he strongly distanced himself from Paludan's provocations, but called for meeting them with arguments rather than violence. Several parliamentary politicians tweeted similar messages, including the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, the then Minister of Justice, Søren Pape Poulsen, the then chairman of the judicial committee, Peter Skaarup, and political leader, Pernille Skipper.

In June 2020, Paludan held a demonstration in Aarhus, when a 52-year-old man pulled out a knife, entered the cordoned-off area, and ran towards Paludan. Police fired a warning shot, but the assailant did not lay down his weapon, whereupon police opened fire and wounded the assailant in the leg.{{Cite web|date=5 June 2020|title=Mand skudt ved Paludan-demonstration - TV 2|url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2020-06-05-mand-skudt-ved-paludan-demonstration|access-date=7 June 2020|website=nyheder.tv2.dk|language=da}} In the aftermath, there was unrest in the area, in which police were hit by fireworks and rocks that were thrown by other assailants in the Gellerup area.{{Cite web|title=To betjente ramt af kasteskyts efter skyderi i Aarhus|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/betjente-ramt-af-kasteskyts-efter-skyderi-i-aarhus|access-date=7 June 2020|website=DR|date=5 June 2020|language=da}}

{{main|2020 Sweden riots|2022 Sweden riots}}

File:Rasmus Paludan i Sollentuna 2022-08-20.jpg

In connection with a planned Quran burning in Malmö, Sweden in August 2020, Paludan was banned from entering Sweden for two years,{{Cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/paludan-stoppades-vid-gransen-har-fatt-inreseforbud|title = "Han utgör ett allvarligt hot" – polisen om inreseförbudet mot Paludan|newspaper = SVT Nyheter|date = 28 August 2020|last1 = Palm|first1 = Olle|language=sv}} but in October he was granted Swedish citizenship due to his father's citizenship.{{Cite web|title=Rasmus Paludan stämmer svenska staten på en miljon|url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2020-10-09/rasmus-paludan-begar-skadestand-pa-en-miljon-av-svenska|access-date=10 October 2020|website=Sydsvenskan|date=9 October 2020 |language=sv}} His supporters then burned a Quran, which led to riots.{{cite news |url =https://www.firstpost.com/world/riots-in-swedens-malmo-after-anti-muslim-danish-leader-blocked-from-quran-burning-rally-given-two-year-ban-8767091.html|title =Riots in Sweden's Malmo after anti-Muslim Danish leader blocked from 'Quran-burning rally', given two-year ban|website =Firstpost|date=August 29, 2020|agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{cite news|title=Riots in Sweden after far-right activists burn copy of Quran|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/riots-sweden-activists-burn-copy-quran-200829143255481.html|publisher=Al-Jazeera English}}

Paludan had his Swedish citizenship confirmed in 2020 and thus obtained the right to stand in the Swedish parliamentary elections. In February 2022, Paludan stated that he planned to stand for the parliamentary elections in September.{{cite news |url=https://www.bt.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-stiller-op-til-svensk-valg-i-september-jeg-goer-danskerne-en-stor |title=Rasmus Paludan stiller op til svensk valg i september: 'Jeg gør danskerne en stor tjeneste' |date=17 February 2022 |work=BT |last=Sinnbeck |first=Peter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211065439/https://www.bt.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-stiller-op-til-svensk-valg-i-september-jeg-goer-danskerne-en-stor |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan soon after began to hold a series of demonstrations in Sweden, while Stram Kurs worked in parallel to become eligible for registration in Denmark. In April 2022, violent disturbances occurred in connection with his demonstrations in Rinkeby, Örebro, Linköping and Norrköping.{{cite news |title=Voldsomme uroligheder efter endnu en Paludan-demo i Sverige |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2022-04-16-voldsomme-uroligheder-efter-endnu-en-paludan-demo-i-sverige |date=16 April 2022 |work=TV 2 |last1=Pedersen |first1=Mette Stender |last2=Haugaard |first2=Mie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628153121/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2022-04-16-voldsomme-uroligheder-efter-endnu-en-paludan-demo-i-sverige |archive-date=28 June 2022 |url-status=live |language=da}} The unrest was condemned by Sweden's then Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, who at the same time defended Paludan's right to speak.{{cite news |title=Sveriges statsminister fordømmer vold ved Paludan-demoer |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2022-04-16-sveriges-statsminister-fordoemmer-vold-ved-paludan-demoer |date=16 April 2022 |last=Neupert |first=Steffen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809082722/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2022-04-16-sveriges-statsminister-fordoemmer-vold-ved-paludan-demoer |archive-date=9 August 2022 |url-status=live |work=TV 2|language=da}} Other Swedish parliament members, including Johan Pehrson and Jimmie Åkesson, also expressed condemnation of the violent reactions.

{{main|2023 Quran burnings in Sweden}}

File:Rasmus Paludan burning the Koran 2023-01-21.jpg

On 21 January 2023, Paludan burned a Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm,{{cite news |title=Paludan-protest foran tyrkisk ambassade forløber uden uro |url=https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/verden/paludan-protest-foran-tyrkisk-ambassade-forloeber-uden-uro/4096494 |date=21 January 2023 |work=Nordjyske|agency=Ritzau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125125245/https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/verden/paludan-protest-foran-tyrkisk-ambassade-forloeber-uden-uro/4096494 |archive-date=25 January 2023 |url-status=live |language=da}} which along with other burnings was later said to "have ignited an enormous global controversy".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/03/sweden-quran-burning-denmark-islam-stunt-global-attention/|title=How Quran burners got the global attention they wanted|first=Adam|last=Taylor|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=3 August 2023}} The Quran burning caused Turkey to cancel a Swedish ministerial visit that was supposed to have dealt with Sweden's application for membership in NATO, and demonstrations arose in Turkey, Iraq, Yemen and Jordan, where hundreds of angry protesters burned the Swedish flag and pictures of Paludan.{{cite news |title=Ekspert: Erdogan fører valgkamp på Paludans koranafbrænding |last=Pedersen |first=Marie Lagoni |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/erdogan-foerer-valgkamp-paa-paludans-koranafbraending |date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125124810/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/erdogan-foerer-valgkamp-paa-paludans-koranafbraending |archive-date=25 January 2023 |url-status=live |language=da}} The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that Sweden should no longer expect Turkish support for their NATO membership.{{cite news |title=Erdogan tordner mod Sverige efter Paludan-demo – truer NATO-medlemskab |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2023-01-23-erdogan-tordner-mod-sverige-efter-paludan-demo-truer-nato-medlemskab |work=TV 2 |last=Lynggaard |first=Emilie Haaber |date=23 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125124650/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2023-01-23-erdogan-tordner-mod-sverige-efter-paludan-demo-truer-nato-medlemskab |archive-date=25 January 2023 |url-status=live |language=da}} Swedish membership of NATO requires that all 30 member states approve Sweden's application; Turkey was then the only country that had refused to do so. According to several experts and analysts, Erdogan used the situation to profile himself for the Turkish presidential election in May.{{cite news |title=Ekspert om Erdogan: - Bruger Paludans stunt til egen fordel |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/ekspert-om-erdogan-bruger-paludans-stunt-til-egen-fordel/9603096 |date=24 January 2023 |work=Ekstra Bladet |last1=Sylvest |first1=Emma |last2=Mathiesen |first2=Charlotte Bech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213156/https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/ekspert-om-erdogan-bruger-paludans-stunt-til-egen-fordel/9603096 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Analyse: Paludans afbrænding af en koran var den perfekte luns for Erdogan |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/international/ECE14887817/analyse-paludans-afbraending-af-en-koran-var-den-perfekte-luns-for-erdogan/ |date=25 January 2023 |work=Jyllands-Posten |last=Plougsgaard |first=Heidi |archive-url= |archive-date= |url-access=subscription |language=da}} Paludan stated on 26 January that he would burn a Quran every Friday in front of the Turkish embassy in Copenhagen until Turkey is ready to ratify Sweden's application for NATO membership.{{cite news |title=Paludan vil brænde koraner, indtil Sverige er med i Nato. Nu bare i Danmark |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/udland/paludan-vil-braende-koraner-indtil-sverige-er-med-i-nato-nu-bare-i-danmark |work=Kristeligt Dagblad |date=26 January 2023 |agency=Ritzau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126213137/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/udland/paludan-vil-braende-koraner-indtil-sverige-er-med-i-nato-nu-bare-i-danmark |archive-date=26 January 2023 |url-status=live |language=da}}

In July 2023, a court in Ankara, Turkey, officially issued an arrest warrant for Paludan for "publicly insulting religious values" as a result of having burned a Quran in front of their embassy.{{Cite web |last=Kirenci |first=Ayse Isin |title=Türkiye issues arrest warrant for far-right Paludan over Quran-burning |url=https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/turkiye-issues-arrest-warrant-for-far-right-paludan-over-quran-burning-14136093 |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Türkiye Issues Arrest Warrant for Danish Politician over Quran-Burning Incident {{!}} Latest News |language=en}}{{Cite news |first1=Markus |last1=Botsjö |first2=Vivvi |last2=Alström |date=2023-07-21 |title=Paludan om turkiska arresteringsordern: "En PR-sak" |language=sv |work=SVT Nyheter |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/paludan-om-arresteringsordern-en-pr-sak |access-date=2023-07-22}}{{Cite news |date=2023-01-23 |title=Högerextremist brände koranen nära Turkiets ambassad |language=sv |work=Sveriges Radio |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/hogerextremist-brande-koranen-nara-turkiets-ambassad |access-date=2023-07-22}} He received threats from Islamic State supporters in response to the burning of the Quran, which they perceived as a declared war by the West against Islam,{{cite news |url=https://www.memri.org/jttm/islamic-state-isis-supporters-react-quran-burning-stockholm-call-muslims-attack-crusaders-and |title=Islamic State (ISIS) Supporters React To Quran Burning In Stockholm, Call For Muslims To Attack 'Crusaders And Their Apostate Lackeys' |date=31 January 2023 |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=MEMRI}} and vowed revenge.{{cite news |url=https://www.hstoday.us/featured/isis-vows-to-soon-take-revenge-for-quran-burning-while-urging-strategic-use-of-blood-corpses-and-killings/ |title=ISIS Vows to 'Soon Take Revenge' for Quran Burning While Urging 'Strategic' Use of 'Blood, Corpses, and Killings' |first=Bridget |last=Johnson |date=7 February 2023 |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=HS Today}}

In May 2023, it was announced that Paludan would be arrested immediately if he set foot in Sweden, as he was investigated for racial hatred offences, insult and gross abuse against a public official. Paludan announced he had no intentions of entering Sweden again.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/4o0d0e/rasmus-paludan-anhallen-i-sin-utevaro-grips-vid-inresa|title=Rasmus Paludan anhållen i sin utevaro – grips vid inresa|first=Victor|last=Stenquist|work=Aftonbladet|date=4 May 2023|language=sv}}

In November 2024, Paludan was convicted by courts in Sweden for his remarks and was sentenced to up to four months' imprisonment.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/sweden-court-verdict-far-right-incitement-muslims-23f557b4dbf6545d396576aefe4f4f27 |title=Swedish court sentences far-right politician for insulting Muslims |date=5 November 2024 |access-date=5 November 2024 |website=Associated Press}}

After the Danish government in 2023 proposed to ban the burning of the Quran, Paludan said he would intensify his "mockery of Islam" in other ways,{{cite news|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-jeg-fortsaetter-og-intensiverer-min-forhaanelse|title=Rasmus Paludan: »Jeg fortsætter og intensiverer min forhånelse«|first=Kasper|last=Fast|work=Berlingske|date=25 August 2023|language=da}}{{cite news|url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE16382201/paludan-har-brainstormet-i-30-minutter-saadan-vil-han-omgaa-det-nye-forbud/|title=Paludan har brainstormet i 30 minutter: Sådan vil han omgå det nye forbud|first=Martin|last=Kaae|work=Jyllands-Posten|date=25 August 2023|language=da}} such as pouring pig's blood and excrement on the Quran outside the ambassador's home.{{cite news|url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/politik/ECE16321246/paludan-om-muligt-forbud-saa-maa-vi-haelde-griseblod-og-ekskrementer-ud-over-koranen-foran-ambassadoerens-bolig/|title=Paludan om muligt forbud: Så må vi hælde griseblod og ekskrementer ud over koranen foran ambassadørens bolig|first=Helene Kristine|last=Holst|work=Jyllands-Posten|date=31 July 2023|language=da}} The Danish Folketing was divided on the issue, but voted to ban the burning of the Quran in December 2023, which Paludan described as a "great success".{{cite news|url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2023-12-08-paludan-kalder-koranloven-en-succes-og-er-klar-til-nye-aktioner|title=Paludan kalder koranloven en succes og er klar til nye aktioner|date=8 December 2023|work=TV 2|first=Jeppe Lykke|last=Hansen|language=da}}

Paludan has demonstrated under massive police protection{{cite news |title=Lever med massiv politibeskyttelse: Jeg stopper ikke med at krænke koranen |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/lever-med-massiv-politibeskyttelse-jeg-stopper-ikke-med-at-kraenke-koranen |work=B.T. |date=2019-04-06 |archive-date= 6 April 2019 |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406201046/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/lever-med-massiv-politibeskyttelse-jeg-stopper-ikke-med-at-kraenke-koranen |url-status=live |language=da}} in districts and residential areas such as Vollsmose, Brøndby Strand, Taastrupgaard, Ishøj, Greve and Aalborg Øst, and he has several times worn a bulletproof vest to the demonstrations. Paludan has also received numerous death threats, and in March 2019, a person was charged and remanded in custody for threatening Paludan's life.{{cite AV media |title=Rasmus Paludan - Højrenationalist i børnehøjde |url=https://www.dr.dk/drtv/se/rasmus-paludan-_-hoejrenationalist-i-boernehoejde_106575 |work=DR2 |year=2019 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630000011/https://www.dr.dk/drtv/se/rasmus-paludan-_-hoejrenationalist-i-boernehoejde_106575 |url-status=live |language=da}} Two former operational chiefs of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), Hans Jørgen Bonnichsen and Frank Jensen, assessed in April 2019 that Paludan was in mortal danger as a result of his provocations.{{cite news |title=Tidligere PET-chefer: Rasmus Paludan er i livsfare |url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/tidligere-pet-chefer-rasmus-paludan-er-i-livsfare |date=2019-04-23 |work=B.T. |archive-date=23 April 2019 |last=Kjeldsen |first=Niels Philip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423165609/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/tidligere-pet-chefer-rasmus-paludan-er-i-livsfare |url-status=live |language=da}} Bonnichsen and Jensen also assessed that Paludan's activities contributed to increasing the overall terrorist threat against Denmark's population.{{cite news |title=Tidligere PET-chefer advarer: Rasmus Paludan øger terrortrussel mod Danmark |url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/tidligere-pet-chefer-advarer-rasmus-paludan-oeger-terrortrussel-mod-danmark |date=2019-04-24 |work=B.T. |archive-date=24 April 2019 |last=Kjeldsen |first=Niels Philip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424211315/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/tidligere-pet-chefer-advarer-rasmus-paludan-oeger-terrortrussel-mod-danmark |url-status=live |language=da}} In October 2019, Paludan was temporarily banned by the Copenhagen Police from demonstrating in the police district, since the Center for Terror Analysis had assessed the current terrorist threat against Paludan as "very serious" due to a "specific threat".{{cite news |title=PET: Terrortrussel mod Paludan er meget alvorlig |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/pet-terrortrussel-mod-paludan-er-meget-alvorlig |work=B.T. |date=2019-10-15 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016130202/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/pet-terrortrussel-mod-paludan-er-meget-alvorlig |url-status=live |language=da}} In September 2020, Paludan was put on Al-Qaeda's death list, and according to Paludan, PET therefore chose to tighten security around him.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan på Al-Qaedas dødsliste |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-paa-al-qaedas-doedsliste |work=BT |date=2020-09-27 |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927192352/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-paa-al-qaedas-doedsliste |url-status=live |language=da}}

Paludan has been subjected to violence or attempted violence several times in connection with his demonstrations:{{cite news |title=Københavns Politi er rykket ud 45 gange til en enkelt borger |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/koebenhavns-politi-er-rykket-ud-45-gange-til-en-enkelt-borger |date=2018-08-08 |work=B.T. |archive-date= 9 August 2018 |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809123608/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/koebenhavns-politi-er-rykket-ud-45-gange-til-en-enkelt-borger |language=da}} in April 2019, Paludan was hit in the head by a stone during a demonstration in Viborg;{{cite news |title=Paludan efter stenkasterdom: - Den berusede person var tæt på at slå mig ihjel |url=https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/viborg/paludan-efter-stenkasterdom-den-berusede-person-var-taet-pa-sla-mig-ihjel |date=2019-06-25 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |work=tvmidtvest.dk |last=Vinkel |first=Per Colstrup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227232813/https://www.tvmidtvest.dk/viborg/paludan-efter-stenkasterdom-den-berusede-person-var-taet-pa-sla-mig-ihjel |url-status=live |language=da}} in October 2019, Paludan was evacuated by the police from a demonstration in Tingbjerg, after a series of firecrackers had been fired at him;{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan angrebet |url=https://www.avisen.dk/rasmus-paludan-angrebet_571978.aspx |date=2019-10-27 |archive-date=29 October 2019 |last=Bugge |first=Peter |work=avisen.dk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029111140/https://www.avisen.dk/rasmus-paludan-angrebet_571978.aspx |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Paludan angrebet med kanonslag |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/112/paludan-angrebet-med-kanonslag/7850015 |date=2019-10-27 |archive-date=27 October 2019 |work=Ekstra Bladet |last=Ehrenskjöld |first=Christina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027144325/https://ekstrabladet.dk/112/paludan-angrebet-med-kanonslag/7850015 |url-status=live |language=da}} and in November 2019, a woman was charged with violence after throwing a liquid at Paludan during a demonstration at Nørrebro's Runddel.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan angrebet |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-angrebet |work=B.T. |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |date=2019-11-04 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227165711/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-angrebet |url-status=live |language=da}}

In December 2016, Paludan's law office was vandalized. Unknown perpetrators had broken a window and thrown a lit powder extinguisher into the office. The powder extinguisher was secured with gaffer tape, so it remained lit and sprayed a thick layer of powder throughout the office. The unknown perpetrators had written "Fuck Pegida" on the façade of the office, a reference to the association For Frihed, whose name was previously Pegida.{{cite news |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2016-12-02-advokat-for-islamkritikere-udsat-for-haervaerk-taendt-pulverslukker-kastet-gennem |title=Advokat for islamkritikere udsat for hærværk: Tændt pulverslukker kastet gennem ruden |date=2016-12-02 |work=TV 2 |last=Secher |first=Mikkel |archive-date=13 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813184226/http://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2016-12-02-advokat-for-islamkritikere-udsat-for-haervaerk-taendt-pulverslukker-kastet-gennem |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/112/politisk-haervaerk-mod-advokat-og-fotograf-inden-voldsom-demonstration/6437663 |title=Politisk hærværk mod advokat og fotograf inden voldsom demonstration |date=2016-12-04 |work=Ekstra Bladet |archive-date=21 April 2019 |last=Søgaard |first=Jan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421122903/https://ekstrabladet.dk/112/politisk-haervaerk-mod-advokat-og-fotograf-inden-voldsom-demonstration/6437663 |url-status=live |language=da}}

In January 2019, a commotion broke out between Paludan and two men while Paludan was exercising at Amager Fælled.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan:- Jeg blev overfaldet under løbetur |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-jeg-blev-overfaldet-under-loebetur/7481275 |date=18 January 2018 |work=Ekstra Bladet|last=Fischer |first=Sune |archive-url= |archive-date= |language=da}} Paludan activated his burglar alarm, but the two men fled on bicycles after one pushed and kicked Paludan.{{cite news |title=Ung cyklist får betinget dom for vold mod Rasmus Paludan |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/ung-cyklist-faar-betinget-dom-for-vold-mod-rasmus-paludan |date=17 February 2020 |author=Ritzau |work=Berlingske |publisher=Berlingske Media |archive-url= |archive-date= |language=da}} In February 2020, one man was found guilty in the Copenhagen District Court and sentenced to 40 days of probation, while another man was acquitted.

In June 2020, during one of his demonstrations, Paludan was threatened by a man armed with a knife in Gellerupparken in Aarhus. Paludan was evacuated by the police, who shot the man in the leg after firing warning shots.{{cite news |title=Mand skudt i benet af politiet under Paludan-demonstration |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/mand-skudt-i-benet-af-politiet-under-paludan-demonstration |work=Ekstra Bladet |date=2020-06-05 |last=Fallah |first=Daniel Nøjsen |archive-date= 9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609174851/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/mand-skudt-i-benet-af-politiet-under-paludan-demonstration |url-status=live |language=da}} The man was subsequently charged and indicted for attempted murder, just as another man was indicted for complicity in the same.{{cite news |title=Mand blev skudt af politiet - sigtes for drabsforsøg |work=Berlingske|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/mand-blev-skudt-af-politiet-sigtes-for-drabsforsoeg |date=2020-06-06 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |agency=Ritzau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625220454/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/mand-blev-skudt-af-politiet-sigtes-for-drabsforsoeg |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=To mænd tiltalt for drabsforsøg på Rasmus Paludan |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2020-11-13-to-maend-tiltalt-for-drabsforsoeg-paa-rasmus-paludan |date=2020-11-13 |work=TV 2 |last=Stie |first=Hans-Henrik Busk |archive-date=13 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113093921/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2020-11-13-to-maend-tiltalt-for-drabsforsoeg-paa-rasmus-paludan |url-status=live |language=da}} On 8 February 2021, the two men were acquitted of attempted murder, but convicted of violence under section 245 subsection 1.{{cite news |title=To mænd frikendt for drabsforsøg på Rasmus Paludan |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/maend-frikendt-drabsforsoeg-paa-rasmus-paludan |work=DR Nyheder |date=8 February 2021 |last=Elkjær |first=Sarah Friis |archive-url= |archive-date= |language=da}}

Police protection of Paludan had, from 1 January 2019, until the general election on 5 June of that year cost 100 million kr.{{cite web |first=Emma |last=Toft |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/politiet-har-brugt-over-100-millioner-paa-beskytte-paludan-i-aar |title=Politiet har brugt over 100 millioner på at beskytte Paludan i år |work=DR |date=2019-06-11 |archive-date= 9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709161950/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/politiet-har-brugt-over-100-millioner-paa-beskytte-paludan-i-aar |url-status=live |language=da}} According to a statement from the National Police, the police protection cost six million kroner in the period 1 January to 7 April, while the costs on 29 April had seven-folded to about 41 million.{{cite news |title=Udgifter i forbindelse med Paludan-demonstrationer løber i april op i mere end 1,5 millioner om dagen |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2019-05-14-udgifter-i-forbindelse-med-paludan-demonstrationer-loeber-i-april-op-i-mere-end |date=2019-05-14 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |work=TV 2 |last=Nielsen |first=Morten |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230133122/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/politik/2019-05-14-udgifter-i-forbindelse-med-paludan-demonstrationer-loeber-i-april-op-i-mere-end |url-status=live |language=da}} The cost of police protection of Paludan has been debated several times in the media by politicians and opinion makers.{{cite news |title=Ja, politiet skal beskytte Rasmus Paludan – også trolde har ytringsfrihed |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/kommentatorer/ja-politiet-skal-beskytte-rasmus-paludan-ogsaa-trolde-har |date=2019-02-19 |work=Berlingske |archive-date= 2 May 2019 |last=Mchangama |first=Jacob |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502013934/https://www.berlingske.dk/kommentatorer/ja-politiet-skal-beskytte-rasmus-paludan-ogsaa-trolde-har |url-status=live |language=da}} A number of national newspapers, including Politiken, Berlingske, Jyllands-Posten, Information, Ekstra Bladet and B.T., argued in leading articles in favour of Paludan's right to freedom of expression and religious criticism following the unrest in connection with a demonstration at Nørrebro in April 2019.{{cite news |title=Aviser: Paludans rettigheder skal forsvares trods provokationer |url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/aviser-paludans-rettigheder-skal-forsvares-trods-provokationer |date=2019-04-16 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |work=B.T.|agency=Ritzau |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416055705/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/aviser-paludans-rettigheder-skal-forsvares-trods-provokationer |language=da}} However, Kristeligt Dagblad wrote that freedom of speech has and should have boundaries and that the abolished blasphemy paragraph could have been "an instrument to protect public order". In addition to newspapers, several members of parliament also engaged with the debate. In September 2018, the spokesman for the Socialist People's Party, Karsten Hønge, stated that the police protection should cease and that Paludan should demonstrate at his own risk.{{cite news |title=SF'er: Stop politibeskyttelsen til Rasmus Paludan |url=https://www.bt.dk/krimi/sfer-stop-politibeskyttelsen-til-rasmus-paludan |date=2018-09-06 |archive-date=31 August 2019 |work=B.T. |last=Larsen |first=Jesper Vestergaard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831193904/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/sfer-stop-politibeskyttelsen-til-rasmus-paludan |url-status=live |language=da}} In May 2019, Denmark's then Minister of Justice, Søren Pape Poulsen, stated that it is important to defend Paludan's right to demonstrate, although he is both "uneducated and unsympathetic". Naser Khader, who is a member of parliament for the Conservative People's Party, has also argued for the importance of protecting Paludan.{{cite web |title=Rasmus Paludan rammer desværre hovedet på sømmet |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/debat/blogs/naserkhader/ECE10867841/rasmus-paludan-rammer-desvaerre-hovedet-paa-soemmet/ |date=2018-09-13 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |work=Jyllands-Posten |last=Khader |first=Naser |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914130219/https://jyllands-posten.dk/debat/blogs/naserkhader/ECE10867841/rasmus-paludan-rammer-desvaerre-hovedet-paa-soemmet/ |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Naser Khader: Paludan skal komme videre - vi har forstået pointen |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/naser-khader-paludan-skal-komme-videre-vi-har-forstaaet-pointen |date=2019-06-11 |archive-date=11 June 2019 |work=DR |last=Kielgast |first=Nis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611225027/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/naser-khader-paludan-skal-komme-videre-vi-har-forstaaet-pointen |url-status=live |language=da}}

In the media and academia, Paludan has been described as far-right and right-wing extremist. Editor-in-chief of Weekendavisen, Martin Krasnik, in an editorial in May 2019 called Paludan a "Nazi";{{cite news |url=https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2019-18/samfund/valget |work=Weekendavisen |date=2019-05-03 |page=14 |last=Krasnik |first=Martin |title=Valget |archive-date=31 August 2019 |quote=Til alle dem, der kalder Paludan for klovn, opvigler, gøgler, provokatør, nar eller andet muntert, må man sige nej: Med sit menneskesyn er Rasmus Paludan nazist. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831135226/https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2019-18/samfund/valget |url-status=live |language=da}} this description has been rejected by several historians{{cite web |url=https://videnskab.dk/kultur-samfund/historikere-nej-rasmus-paludan-er-ikke-nazist |title=Historikere: Nej, Rasmus Paludan er ikke nazist |first=Anne |last=Ringgaard |date=2019-05-08 |work=videnskab.dk |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612062315/https://videnskab.dk/kultur-samfund/historikere-nej-rasmus-paludan-er-ikke-nazist |url-status=live |language=da}} and was termed by historian Bent Blüdnikow as an "ahistorical and dangerous relativization of historical Nazism" and "an indignity to the victims of Nazism".{{cite web |first=Kristian |last=Lindberg |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/aok/historiker-om-nazisme-beskyldning-mod-paludan-som-joede-opfatter-jeg-det-som |title=Historiker om nazisme-beskyldning mod Paludan: »Som jøde opfatter jeg det som en sjofelhed mod nazismens ofre« |work=Berlingske |date=2019-05-03 |archive-date= 7 May 2019 |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507131129/https://www.berlingske.dk/aok/historiker-om-nazisme-beskyldning-mod-paludan-som-joede-opfatter-jeg-det-som |url-status=live |language=da}} Historian Claus Bryld stated to Berlingske that he had no problems with Krasnik's use of the word Nazi, but that he himself would probably use the word racist. Lecturer in history at Roskilde University Center Claus Bundgård Christensen, who is also an expert on Nazism, does not believe that Paludan is a Nazi. According to Christensen, the rhetoric that is used does not resemble the rhetoric of the Nazis either, and he instead calls the party leader a "populist demagogue".{{cite web |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/retoriker-paludan-er-en-haemningsloes-showman |work=Kristeligt Dagblad |date=2019-05-09 |page=4 |last=Jensen |first=Linda Corfitz |title=Retoriker: Paludan er en hæmningsløs showman |archive-date= 9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509171442/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/retoriker-paludan-er-en-haemningsloes-showman |url-status=live |language=da}} Against the accusations of being a Nazi, Paludan has said that he has always supported homosexuals and Jews in Denmark, and that as far as he knew, that was not a particularly Nazi view. British The Economist described him in February 2023 as "an attention-hogging far-right Danish politician".{{cite magazine | title=A burnt Koran holds back Sweden and Finland from joining NATO | magazine=The Economist | date=2 February 2023 | url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/02/02/a-burnt-koran-holds-back-sweden-and-finland-from-joining-nato |url-access=subscription |quote=Mr. Paludan, an attention-hogging far-right Danish politician [...]|language=da}} Among other things, Paludan has referred to himself as "guardian of society", "soldier of freedom" and "the light of the Danes".

Ideologically, some observers have considered Paludan a counter-jihadist, although he considers himself to be an ethno-nationalist.{{cite news|title=Stram Kurs och Rasmus Paludan|url=https://expo.se/fakta/wiki/stram-kurs-och-rasmus-paludan|date=19 September 2022|work=Expo|language=Swedish}}{{cite news|url=https://expo.se/2020/09/koranbr%C3%A4nnarna-bryr-sig-inte-om-yttrandefriheten|title=Daniel Poohl: Koranbrännarna bryr sig inte om yttrandefriheten|date=6 September 2020|work=Expo|language=Swedish}} Paludan believes that Islam should be banned in Denmark,{{cite web |title=Lektor: Paludan viser, hvad frihedsrettigheder indebærer |url=https://www.religion.dk/lektor-paludan-illustrerer-hvad-frihedsrettigheder-indebaerer |date=2019-06-18 |archive-date=31 December 2019 |work=religion.dk |last=Lægaard |first=Sune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231133701/https://www.religion.dk/lektor-paludan-illustrerer-hvad-frihedsrettigheder-indebaerer |url-status=live |language=da}} and a ban is also part of Stram Kurs's political program. According to Paludan, such a ban would not be unconstitutional, since, according to Article 67{{cite web |title=Danmarks Riges Grundlov § 67 |website=grundloven.dk |url=http://grundloven.dk/ |archive-date= 6 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206153003/http://grundloven.dk/ |url-status=live |language=da}} of the Constitution, freedom of religion is limited in that "nothing is taught or done that is contrary to morality or public order". Jørgen Albæk Jensen, who is a professor of law at Aarhus University, has assessed a ban on Islam to be in conflict with the mentioned section, and law professor Jens Elo Rytter has assessed that you can potentially ban religious communities, but not a whole religion.{{cite news |title=Professorer kaldte Rasmus Paludans politik grundlovsstridig – nu svarer han igen |work=Berlingske|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/professorer-kaldte-rasmus-paludans-politik-grundlovsstridig-nu-svarer-han |date=2019-04-30 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |last1=Holm |first1=Thue Ahrenkilde |last2=Reinwald |first2=Tobias |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430221152/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/professorer-kaldte-rasmus-paludans-politik-grundlovsstridig-nu-svarer-han |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan siger, at han demonstrerer for Grundloven – men hans egen politik strider mod Danmarks forfatning |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-siger-at-han-demonstrerer-for-grundloven-men-hans-egen |date=2019-04-29 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |work=Berlingske|last1=Reinwald |first1=Tobias |last2=Holm |first2=Thue Ahrenkilde|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430033344/https://www.berlingske.dk/politik/rasmus-paludan-siger-at-han-demonstrerer-for-grundloven-men-hans-egen |url-status=live |language=da}}

Paludan has warned several times about the Great Replacement,{{cite news |title=Detektor: Forudsigelser om Den store Udskiftning er 'noget værre vrøvl' |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/detektor/detektor-forudsigelser-om-den-store-udskiftning-er-noget-vaerre-vroevl |date=2019-06-20 |work=DR |last1=Frøkjær |first1=Sofie |last2=Stobbe |first2=Jakob |archive-date= 8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708160122/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/detektor/detektor-forudsigelser-om-den-store-udskiftning-er-noget-vaerre-vroevl |url-status=live |language=da}} a white-nationalist conspiracy theory that European populations are gradually being replaced by Muslim immigrants and their descendants.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan er større på YouTube end alle de andre partier tilsammen |url=https://www.information.dk/indland/2019/06/rasmus-paludan-stoerre-paa-youtube-andre-partier-tilsammen |date=2019-06-11 |last1=Gjerding |first1=Sebastian |last2=Dahlin |first2=Ulrik |work=Information |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629113717/https://www.information.dk/indland/2019/06/rasmus-paludan-stoerre-paa-youtube-andre-partier-tilsammen |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan claimed in a party leadership debate during the 2019 general election that the ethnic Danish population is approaching becoming a minority due to a higher birth rate among Muslims in Denmark, and Paludan has claimed on several occasions that it will be a reality within a few decades. According to religion and demography researchers, there is no indication of such a development.{{cite news |title=Faktatjek: Paludan overdriver vildt om stor »udskiftning« af danskere |url=https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/FV19/art7184109/Paludan-overdriver-vildt-om-stor-%C2%BBudskiftning%C2%AB-af-danskere |date=2019-05-07 |work=Politiken|archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628231810/https://politiken.dk/indland/politik/FV19/art7184109/Paludan-overdriver-vildt-om-stor-%C2%BBudskiftning%C2%AB-af-danskere |url-status=live |language=da}}

Paludan has called for putting expelled foreign citizens unwilling and unable to travel back to their country in detention camps in North-Eastern Greenland.{{cite web|title=Stram Kurs vil deportere de fleste i Vollsmose: - Vi har kun ét hjemland, og det skal vi værne om|trans-title=Hard Line wants to deport most people in Vollsmose: - We have only one homeland, and we shall protect it.|url=https://www.fyens.dk/fyn/Stram-Kurs-vil-deportere-de-fleste-i-Vollsmose-Vi-har-kun-et-hjemland-og-det-skal-vi-vaerne-om/artikel/3355129|work=Fyens|date=3 June 2019|language=Danish}} In 2019 he ran for election on a platform of deporting up to 700,000 people of immigrant origin from Denmark.{{cite news|url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/politiet-lukkede-udlaendingekontrol-for-at-passe-paa-paludan|title= Politiet lukkede udlændingekontrol for at passe på Paludan |work=B.T.|date=17 June 2019|language=da}}

Paludan has been involved in a number of lawsuits and legal disputes; he himself has been sued at various courts and has also been behind several lawsuits and complaints himself. Jacob Mchangama, who is the director of the legal think tank Justitia, has criticized Paludan for operating with double standards for free speech and for bringing "a series of patently baseless libel cases":

{{blockquote|Paludan operates with two different standards of freedom of expression: one that applies to himself and which is almost unlimited, and then one that applies to his opponents and which is almost non-existent when it comes to criticism of himself. The fact that he has filed and lost a number of patently baseless libel cases underlines this. So do the threats of imprisonment for "treason" against political opponents.|Jacob Mchangama, Berlingske{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan står bag stribe af søgsmål og klager: »Han opererer med to forskellige standarder for ytringsfrihed« |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/rasmus-paludan-staar-bag-stribe-af-soegsmaal-og-klager-han-opererer-med-to |work=Berlingske |archive-date= 8 May 2019 |last1=Holm |first1=Line Tolstrup |last2=Jensen |first2=Henrik |last3=Jessen |first3=Chris Kjær |date=2019-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508185913/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/rasmus-paludan-staar-bag-stribe-af-soegsmaal-og-klager-han-opererer-med-to |url-status=live |language=da}}}}

Paludan has voiced criticism of the police and the lawyers employed by them, just as he has led a number of complaints against specific officers. In 2007, he described in a debate post how he had experienced several officers acting in a critical manner.{{cite web |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/kbh/ECE3358748/Hvis-alle-vidste-hvad-jeg-ved-.../ |work=Jyllands-Posten|date=2007-05-11 |page=11 |last=Paludan |first=Rasmus |title=Hvis alle vidste, hvad jeg ved ... |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511184757/https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/kbh/ECE3358748/Hvis-alle-vidste-hvad-jeg-ved-.../ |url-status=live |language=da}} In the debate article, Paludan assessed that the vast majority of police officers were psychopaths. In 2008, Paludan founded the association Danish Center for Complaints about the Police to combat the current police complaint system.{{cite web |url=https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/jurist-vil-samle-klagere/7a61b66c-a0c4-48b1-9e2c-08d412c77d4e |work=Nordjyske Stiftstidende |date=2008-08-11 |agency=Ritzau |title=Jurist vil samle klagere |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511182131/https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/jurist-vil-samle-klagere/7a61b66c-a0c4-48b1-9e2c-08d412c77d4e |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has filed at least 18 complaints against specific officers without success, and he has sought access to the personnel information of at least 81 police officers and 16 police prosecutors.{{cite web |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/rasmus-paludan-har-i-aarevis-forsoegt-at-skaffe-oplysninger-om-danske |title=Rasmus Paludan har i årevis forsøgt at skaffe oplysninger om danske betjente: »Det er usædvanligt og ubehageligt, at han går efter landets politifolk« |work=Berlingske|date=2019-05-26 |archive-date= 6 July 2019 |last1=Pedersen |first1=Lars Nørgaard |last2=Jensen |first2=Henrik |last3=Holm |first3=Line Tolstrup |last4=Jessen |first4=Chris Kjær |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706110156/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/rasmus-paludan-har-i-aarevis-forsoegt-at-skaffe-oplysninger-om-danske |url-status=live |language=da}} Chairman of the Police Association, Claus Oxfeldt, and chairman of the National Police Association, Jørgen Olsen, have described Paludan's actions as harassment and deliberate abuse.

In 2004, Paludan filed a civil lawsuit against Rasmus Paludan Malver, then a member of Young Conservatives, for calling himself Rasmus Paludan in, among other things, a reader's letter and a debate forum. Malver was partially acquitted, but convicted for having used the username "Paludan" in the Young Conservative debate forum, since according to the name legislation at the time, one was not allowed to use one's middle name as a surname.{{cite web |first1=Louise |last1=Petring |first2=Mathias |last2=Tuxen |title=Rasmus Paludan: 'Jeg kan også selv mærke, hvordan jorden brænder under mig' |url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludan-jeg-kan-ogsaa-selv-maerke-hvordan-jorden-braender-under-mig |work=B.T.|date=2019-04-17 |archive-date= 1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501191211/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludan-jeg-kan-ogsaa-selv-maerke-hvordan-jorden-braender-under-mig |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Da Rasmus Paludan sagsøgte Rasmus Paludan |url=https://redox.dk/nyheder/da-rasmus-paludan-sagsogte-rasmus-paludan/ |work=Redox |archive-date=12 June 2019 |date=2017-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612072612/https://redox.dk/nyheder/da-rasmus-paludan-sagsogte-rasmus-paludan/ |url-status=live |language=da}}

In 2006, Paludan sued two members of the Young Conservatives for libellous statements. In a debate post on the organization's website, they had called Paludan "neurotic" and "a nasty slick boy". In the Eastern High Court, the two members were sentenced to two daily fines of 500 kr.{{cite web|title=KU'ere dømt for æreskrænkelse|url=https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/ku-ere-doemt-for-aereskraenkelse/d1382baf-1a4f-4d1c-aaf4-648867eeb4e9|agency=Ritzau|work=Nordjyske|date=2006-11-25|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428070937/https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/ku-ere-doemt-for-aereskraenkelse/d1382baf-1a4f-4d1c-aaf4-648867eeb4e9|url-status=live|language=da}}

In 2015, Paludan was fined ten daily fines of 400 kr in the Eastern High Court for insulting a police assistant from the Copenhagen Police. In connection with a restraining order case, Paludan wrote three e-mails to the police assistant; in the emails, Paludan called the police assistant a "criminal snot puppy" and "fascist stormtrooper", among other things. During the case, excerpts of statements from a neuropsychological examination, a psychiatric specialist's statement and a preliminary neuropsychological examination were presented. The investigations showed that a brain injury sustained in a traffic accident in 2005 had left Paludan with a 25 per cent degree of disability and a 25 per cent loss of working capacity. Paludan explained in court that the injury had caused a behaviour change that made it difficult for him to tolerate the mistakes of others without becoming very frustrated himself.{{cite news |url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/paludan-doemt-for-verbalt-overfald-paa-betjent |archive-date= 9 May 2019 |title=Paludan dømt for verbalt overfald på betjent |work=BT|date=2019-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509015615/https://www.bt.dk/samfund/paludan-doemt-for-verbalt-overfald-paa-betjent |url-status=live |language=da}}

In April 2019, Paludan was sentenced at the Court in Glostrup to a 14-day suspended prison sentence for violating Section 266 b of the Criminal Code, also known as the racism section, after having linked Africans with low intelligence in a YouTube video. Paludan stated in the video:

{{blockquote|Yes, when you, like [Bwalya Sørensen] and like most blacks in South Africa, are not gifted enough to be able to see how things actually are, it is much easier to only see in black and white and, as I said, to blame to the whites.|Rasmus Paludan}}

The court also assessed that the video was an expression of propaganda, which according to the law is an aggravating circumstance. Paludan appealed to the Eastern High Court,{{cite news |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/islamkritikeren-rasmus-paludan-doemt-for-racisme |title=Islamkritikeren Rasmus Paludan dømt for racisme |work=Berlingske|date=2019-04-05 |first=Daniel |last=Lingren |archive-date= 6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406152644/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/islamkritikeren-rasmus-paludan-doemt-for-racisme |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dr.dk/ligetil/indland/formand-partiet-stram-kurs-er-doemt-racisme |title=Formand for partiet Stram Kurs er dømt for racisme |work=DR |date=5 April 2019 |editor=Anne Bollerslev |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612085146/https://www.dr.dk/ligetil/indland/formand-partiet-stram-kurs-er-doemt-racisme |url-status=live |language=da}} which upheld the sentence on 4 July.{{cite web |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2019-07-04-landsretten-stadfaester-rasmus-paludan-doemt-for-racisme |title=Landsretten stadfæster: Rasmus Paludan dømt for racisme |work=TV 2 |date=2019-07-04 |archive-date= 3 September 2019 |first1=Mikkel Walentin |last1=Mortensen |first2=Astrid |last2=Søndberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903103456/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2019-07-04-landsretten-stadfaester-rasmus-paludan-doemt-for-racisme |url-status=live |language=da}}

In June 2020, Paludan was indicted for 14 offenses by the State Attorney in Copenhagen.{{Cite news|url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/politiretsvaesen/ECE12214748/statsadvokat-kraever-faengsel-til-rasmus-paludan/|title=Statsadvokat kræver fængsel til Rasmus Paludan|date=2020-06-11|work=Jyllands Posten|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611144308/https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/politiretsvaesen/ECE12214748/statsadvokat-kraever-faengsel-til-rasmus-paludan/|url-status=live|language=da}} The charges related to racism, defamation and reckless driving. On 25 June, Paludan was found guilty of all charges by the Court in Næstved and sentenced to three months in prison, of which one month was suspended.{{cite web |url=https://domstol.dk/naestved/aktuelt/2020/6/domsmandsret-har-afsagt-dom-i-sag-om-overtraedelse-af-straffelovens-racismebestemmelse-266b/ |title=Dom om overtrædelse af straffelovens racismebestemmelse § 266b |work=domstol.dk |date=2020-06-25 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625224047/https://domstol.dk/naestved/aktuelt/2020/6/domsmandsret-har-afsagt-dom-i-sag-om-overtraedelse-af-straffelovens-racismebestemmelse-266b/ |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan idømt tre måneders fængsel og må ikke føre straffesager i tre år |work=DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-tre-maaneders-faengsel-og-maa-ikke-foere-straffesager-i-tre |date=2020-06-25 |archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625145727/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-tre-maaneders-faengsel-og-maa-ikke-foere-straffesager-i-tre |url-status=live |language=da}} In addition to the prison sentence, Paludan was deprived of his driving license for one year, deprived of the right to lead criminal cases as a lawyer for three years and sentenced to a fine of 8,500 kr as well as ordered to pay 30,000 kr in compensation to the injured party in the defamation case. Paludan subsequently said that he would appeal the sentence.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan vil anke fængselsdom: 'Har forsøgt at holde mig på dydens smalle sti' |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-vil-anke-faengselsdom-har-forsoegt-holde-mig-paa-dydens-smalle-sti |work=DR |date=2020-06-25 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |last=Lind |first=Anton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625230645/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-vil-anke-faengselsdom-har-forsoegt-holde-mig-paa-dydens-smalle-sti |url-status=live |language=da}} The Eastern High Court found Paludan guilty on 2 September 2021 but made the entire prison sentence conditional, reduced the compensation to 5,000 kr and did not deprive Paludan of the right to conduct criminal proceedings. The High Court upheld the unconditional revocation of the driving license and the traffic fine of 8,500 kr.{{Cite news| url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/landsret-lemper-straf-racisme-til-rasmus-paludan | title=Landsret lemper straf for racisme til Rasmus Paludan | agency=Ritzau | date=2 September 2021 | work=Kristeligt Dagblad | archive-date= 2 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902171638/https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/danmark/landsret-lemper-straf-racisme-til-rasmus-paludan | url-status=live |language=da}}

In 2013, Paludan was issued a restraining order by the Copenhagen Police against seeking out a former fellow student from the Latin studies at the University of Copenhagen.{{cite news |title=Tilhold stoppede ikke Paludan: Blev sigtet for fem overtrædelser af polititilhold |date=2019-05-16 |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/tilhold-stoppede-ikke-paludan-blev-sigtet-for-fem-overtraedelser-af |archive-date=25 May 2020 |work=Berlingske |last1=Holm |first1=Line Tolstrup |last2=Jensen |first2=Henrik |last3=Jessen |first3=Chris Kjær |last4=Pedersen |first4=Lars Nørgaard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525002118/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/tilhold-stoppede-ikke-paludan-blev-sigtet-for-fem-overtraedelser-af |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |first1=Nanna Bundgaard |last1=Bruun |first2=Kasper |last2=Løvkvist |first3=Thomas |last3=Funding |date=2019-05-14 |title=Rasmus Paludans tilholdssag: Læs hvordan han forfulgte og chikanerede ung mand i årevis |url=https://www.jv.dk/danmark/Rasmus-Paludans-tilholdssag-Laes-hvordan-han-forfulgte-og-chikanerede-ung-mand-i-aarevis/artikel/2716638 |work=JydskeVestkysten |archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514210426/https://www.jv.dk/danmark/Rasmus-Paludans-tilholdssag-Laes-hvordan-han-forfulgte-og-chikanerede-ung-mand-i-aarevis/artikel/2716638 |url-status=live |language=da}} The five-year restraining order was issued after Paludan had harassed the fellow student for several years.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan på ret kurs? |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludan-paa-ret-kurs |work=Berlingske|date=2019-05-28 |archive-date= 4 June 2019 |last1=Pedersen |first1=Lars Nørgaard |last2=Holm |first2=Line Tolstrup |last3=Jessen |first3=Chris Kjær |last4=Jensen |first4=Henrik |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604100606/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/rasmus-paludan-paa-ret-kurs |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |title=Ung mand blev i flere år chikaneret af Rasmus Paludan. En dag dukkede partilederen op med et kamera i mandens barndomsby |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/ung-mand-blev-i-flere-aar-chikaneret-af-rasmus-paludan.-en-dag-dukkede |work=Berlingske|archive-date= 1 October 2019 |date=2019-05-15 |last1=Jensen |first1=Henrik |last2=Jessen |first2=Chris Kjær |last3=Holm |first3=Line Tolstrup |last4=Pedersen |first4=Lars Nørgaard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001012323/https://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/ung-mand-blev-i-flere-aar-chikaneret-af-rasmus-paludan.-en-dag-dukkede |url-status=live |language=da}} According to Berlingske, the harassment consisted of phone calls, letters, text messages, physical harassment, seeking out the student's family members and circulating letters with derogatory information about the student.

In August 2020, upon arrival at the border control in Lernacken, Paludan was refused entry to Sweden and was banned from entering Sweden for two years by the police in Malmö for reasons of national security.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan har fået to års indrejseforbud til Sverige på grund af rigets sikkerhed |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-har-faaet-aars-indrejseforbud-til-sverige-paa-grund-af-rigets |work=DR |last=Jørgensen |first=Anna Sol |date=2020-08-28 |archive-date=29 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829121034/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-har-faaet-aars-indrejseforbud-til-sverige-paa-grund-af-rigets |url-status=live |language=da}} The police had previously refused Paludan permission to hold a demonstration in Malmö for reasons of order and security.{{cite web |title=Polisen nekar tillstånd för allmän sammankomst |url=https://polisen.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2020/augusti/polisen-nekar-tillstand-for-allman-sammankomst/ |work=polisen.se |archive-date=30 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830065941/https://polisen.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2020/augusti/polisen-nekar-tillstand-for-allman-sammankomst/ |url-status=live |language=sv}} Paludan was later recognized as a Swedish citizen by the Migration Board and therefore cannot be refused entry.{{cite news |title=Paludan har fået anerkendt svensk statsborgerskab |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2020-10-09-paludan-har-faet-anerkendt-svensk-statsborgerskab |work=TV 2 |agency=Ritzau |date=2020-10-09 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201115160535/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/udland/2020-10-09-paludan-har-faet-anerkendt-svensk-statsborgerskab |url-status=live |language=da}}

On 20 March 2023, Paludan was banned from entering the United Kingdom, after stating he would burn a copy of the Quran in the city of Wakefield during an upcoming visit in support of four pupils at a Wakefield school who had been suspended over damaging a Quran.{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-65020528 |title= Danish far-right leader banned from UK over threat to burn Quran in Wakefield |work= BBC News |date= 20 March 2023 |access-date= 20 March 2023}}

Paludan has since 2014 worked as an independent lawyer and has been a defender of the self-proclaimed freedom activist Lars Kragh Andersen{{cite web |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/provo-betjent-slipper-for-faengsel/5759790 |title=Provo-betjent slipper for fængsel |work=Ekstra Bladet |date=2015-10-01 |last=Søgaard |first=Jan |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015034910/http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/provo-betjent-slipper-for-faengsel/5759790 |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite news |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/laekkede-thornings-person-nummer-anklager-kraever-haard-dom/5713107 |title=Lækkede Thornings person-nummer: Anklager kræver hård dom |date=2015-09-02 |work=Ekstra Bladet |last=Søgaard |first=Jan |archive-date= 6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506162408/https://ekstrabladet.dk/112/laekkede-thornings-person-nummer-anklager-kraever-haard-dom/5713107 |url-status=live|language=da }} – who in 2015 received a 30-day suspended sentence for, among other things, publishing social security numbers belonging to the then Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and the then Minister of Defense, Nicolai Wammen – and has also been a defender of the provocative artist Uwe Max Jensen,{{cite web |url=http://politiken.dk/kultur/art5821227/Kurt-Westergaard-i-principiel-retssag-Min-ophavsret-er-blevet-kr%C3%A6nket |title=Kurt Westergaard i principiel retssag: Min ophavsret er blevet krænket |date=2017-02-05 |work=Politiken |last=Benner |first=Torben |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227000942/https://politiken.dk/kultur/art5821227/Kurt-Westergaard-i-principiel-retssag-Min-ophavsret-er-blevet-kr%C3%A6nket |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite web |url=http://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2017-11-17-kunstner-udebliver-fra-retsmode-skal-betale-100000-kroner-til-kurt-westergaard |title=Kunstner udebliver fra retsmøde - skal betale 100.000 kroner til Kurt Westergaard |date=2017-11-17 |work=TV 2 |agency=Ritzau |archive-date=28 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928215908/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2017-11-17-kunstner-udebliver-fra-retsmode-skal-betale-100000-kroner-til-kurt-westergaard |url-status=live |language=da}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tv2nord.dk/artikel/provokunstner-doemt-overfald-paa-kunsten-ansatte |title=Provokunstner dømt for overfald på Kunsten-ansatte |work=TV2 Nord |date=2017-12-21 |first=Josefine |last=Brader |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612072611/https://www.tv2nord.dk/artikel/provokunstner-doemt-overfald-paa-kunsten-ansatte |url-status=live |language=da}} who is friends with Paludan privately and has also been a candidate for Stram Kurs.{{cite news |title=Stram Kurs-kandidat: Jeg vil i Folketinget – min opstilling er ikke en ny happening |url=https://www.tv2nord.dk/fv19-folketingsvalg/stram-kurs-kandidat-jeg-vil-i-folketinget-min-opstilling-er-ikke-en-ny-happening |date=2019-05-13 |work=TV 2 |last=Beltoft |first=Pia Kjelgaard |archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629224825/https://www.tv2nord.dk/fv19-folketingsvalg/stram-kurs-kandidat-jeg-vil-i-folketinget-min-opstilling-er-ikke-en-ny-happening |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has also led a number of cases on the use of medical cannabis.{{cite web |first=Morten D. |last=Christensen |url=http://sn.dk/Holbaek/Moffe-sagen-Forsvarsadvokat-kritiserer-politiet/artikel/612430 |title=Moffe-sagen: Forsvarsadvokat kritiserer politiet |date=2016-11-07 |work=Sjællands Nyheder |archive-date=17 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517215308/https://sn.dk/Holbaek/Moffe-sagen-Forsvarsadvokat-kritiserer-politiet/artikel/612430 |url-status=dead |language=da}}

In 2017, Paludan was appointed to defend a 42-year-old North Jutland man who, as the first in 46 years, stood accused of blasphemy, after he had burned a copy of the Quran in his garden and published a video of the act on Facebook.{{cite web |url=http://politiken.dk/indland/art5845182/Advokat-Koran-afbr%C3%A6nding-er-udtryk-for-selvforsvar |title=Advokat: Koran-afbrænding er udtryk for selvforsvar |work=Politiken|agency=Ritzau |date=2017-02-23 |archive-date= 5 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005142826/http://politiken.dk/indland/art5845182/Advokat-Koran-afbr%C3%A6nding-er-udtryk-for-selvforsvar |url-status=live |language=da}} However, the case did not go to court when the Danish Parliament decided in June 2017 to abolish the blasphemy clause.{{cite web |agency=Ritzau|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/mand-undgaar-retssag-efter-afskaffelse-af-blasfemiparagraf |title=Mand undgår retssag efter afskaffelse af blasfemiparagraf |work=DR |date=2017-06-02 |archive-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615001158/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/mand-undgaar-retssag-efter-afskaffelse-af-blasfemiparagraf |url-status=live |language=da}}

Paludan has been asked several times to address the fact that he has been a lawyer for asylum seekers, while he has publicly argued against immigration. Paludan has rejected the criticism, explaining that his goal as a lawyer is to fight for the client and that a defence lawyer does not have to be a supporter of murder to be able to defend a person accused of manslaughter.{{cite web |url=https://www.information.dk/indland/2016/10/kan-advokat-forsvare-udlaendinge-samtidig-vaere-pegida |title=Kan en advokat forsvare udlændinge og samtidig være med i Pegida? |work=Information |last=Rosendahl |first=Natalie Barrington |date=2016-10-22 |archive-date= 7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607115838/https://www.information.dk/indland/2016/10/kan-rasmus-paludan-forsvare-udlaendinge-samtidig-vaere-pegida |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan has further said that he has only been a lawyer for a foreigner deprived of his liberty when that person has asked for him.{{cite AV media |title=Kan en advokat varetage udlændinges tarv i retten og samtidig kæmpe for at begrænse deres muligheder i Danmark? |work=24syv Morgen|date=2016-11-02 |language=da}} Paludan was in three cases between 2016 and 2018 appointed as a lawyer for African asylum seekers.{{cite web |url=https://politiken.dk/indland/art7195039/Rasmus-Paludan-f%C3%B8rer-sager-som-forsvarsadvokat-for-udl%C3%A6ndinge/ |title=Rasmus Paludan fører sager som forsvarsadvokat for udlændinge |work=Politiken|date=2019-05-14 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |last=Kjær |first=Jakob Sorgenfri |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227002130/https://politiken.dk/indland/art7195039/Rasmus-Paludan-f%C3%B8rer-sager-som-forsvarsadvokat-for-udl%C3%A6ndinge |url-status=live |language=da}}

In 2017, Paludan was twice fined by the Bar Association for violating good legal practice. The reason was that, in connection with several cases, Paludan had called named police officers and prosecutors corrupt, possible criminals and high-level amateurs.{{cite web |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-flere-boeder-tale-grimt-om-politiet |title=Rasmus Paludan idømt flere bøder for at tale grimt om politiet |work=DR |last=Toft |first=Emma |date=2019-05-06 |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612063049/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-flere-boeder-tale-grimt-om-politiet |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan appealed both decisions to the district court, which upheld them in May 2019.{{cite news |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/valg19/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-boede-paa-30.000-kroner/7635132 |title=Rasmus Paludan idømt bøde på 30.000 kroner |work=Ekstra Bladet |date=2019-05-16 |archive-date=12 June 2019 |first=Christina |last=Ehrenskjöld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612053222/https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/valg19/rasmus-paludan-idoemt-boede-paa-30.000-kroner/7635132 |url-status=live |language=da}} Paludan appealed the district court's decision, but it was upheld by the Østre Landsret in December 2020.{{cite news |title=Rasmus Paludan skal betale stor bøde |url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-skal-betale-stor-boede/8411762 |work=Ekstra Bladet|date=2020-12-23 |agency=Ritzau |archive-date=24 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224114810/https://ekstrabladet.dk/krimi/rasmus-paludan-skal-betale-stor-boede/8411762 |url-status=live |language=da}}

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