Swedish Politicians defending Islamists by all means?
In a follow up to my article on War on Freedom concerning censorship in Sweden I found this shocking article here at the "Boycott Israeli Goods" website (*). Anna Lindh (a popular politician) was the former foreign minister killed in a sad event by a lunatic:
"Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh (a reader belives this was said by Lena Hjelm-Wallén another former foreign minister) announced that she will boycott Israeli products available in the Swedish market, especially citrus fruits and avocadoes.
Speaking to Swedish television on Friday, April 19, Lindh (a reader belives this was said by Lena Hjelm-Wallén another former foreign minister) said, If I am unable to influence my government's policy to boycott Israel, I can at least personally boycott their products. She called on Swedish nationals to boycott Israeli products in the light of the recent massacres committed by the Israeli army in the Palestinian territories. Lindh (and Lena Hjelm-Wallén) is a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party and has been sympathetic with Arab issues along with other members of the Swedish government, such as former Foreign Minister Sten Andersson, a personal friend of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. She (or Lena Hjelm-Wallén) had in the past asked the European Union to suspend its relations with Israel as a way of denouncing the occupation forces practices against the Palestinian civilian population. Meanwhile, the Palestinian minister for international cooperation Nabil Shaath was visiting Stockholm on Friday and met with Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson who promised to donate 350 million Swedish Corona (nearly $ 35 million) to rebuild Jenin and nearby areas destroyed by Israeli aggression. Persson promised to increase the sum soon. Shaath also met with Lindh who expressed her shock at recent events in the Palestinian territories and promised to do her best to help the Palestinian people. Besides government officials, Swedish nationals have also been sympathizing with the Palestinian cause, many of them wearing badges that said "boycott Israel". The streets of Stockholm on Thursday witnessed demonstrations were banners were raised calling hawkish Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon a mass murderer, and other saying "Bush is a killer" and "Zionism is Fascism". Jews in Sweden have also held counter demonstrations and a few conflicts rose between both sides that was stopped through police intervention. In the Swedish city of Uppsala on Friday, a silent demonstration was held with demonstrators wearing black and carrying candles. The increasing number of Swedes participating in anti-Israeli demonstrations has been noticeable and has forced the Palestinian Issue to be featured on the agenda of the Swedish Legislative elections which will be held on September 2002.
I gather the following from the article:
- Swedish Government members and an ex-Foreign Minister in particular were in favor of boycotting Israeli goods
- Swedish Government is supporting Palestine against Israel
- Another former Foreign Minister Sten Anderson was a personal friend of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat - an ex-terrorist
- Leading Social Democratic Party is sympathetic with Arabs
- A Swedish ex-Foreign Minister has in the past asked the European Union to suspend its relations with Israel
- Swedish nationals have also been sympathizing with the Palestinian cause asking for boycott of Israel
- At demonstrations i Stockholm, Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, is called a mass murderer.
- Arafat is at worst only called a personal friend
- At demonstrations in Stockholm banners say "Bush is a killer"
- At demonstrations in Stockholm banners say "Zionism is Fascism"
A reader has found this: (quoted from wikipedia):
[Anna Lindh] advocated greater respect for international law and human rights in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, criticising Ariel Sharon's government in Israel, but also condemning Palestine suicide bombings as "atrocities". In a January 30, 2003 speech, she called on Israel to "end the occupation, give up settlements, and agree on a pragmatic solution to Jerusalem" and on the Palestinians to "do everything in their power to stop the terrorist acts, and take legal measures against those responsible" and to "produce reform, for security, but also for democracy and human rights".
PM Göran Persson's standpoint is pretty much the same.
Update end
The current Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds was reportedly primarily responsible for the censorship action together with the Secret Police. I have no idea why the Minister of Foreign Affairs is handling an internal matter. It is probably just a proof of involvement by minimum the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs.
But now I even better understand the motivation of the Social Democrat Government to use censorship. Their personal loyalties are clear and colored at the same time. Sweden obviously has a large anti Jewish movement while being somewhat pro Arab. I suppose that means the government is in favor of all the human right infringements committed by Arab countries and Palestine? Does it specifically include some or all of these: Female subservience, stonings, whippings, execution for adultery, execution for blasphemy, honor killings, maiming, terrorism, anti-Zionism, dictatorships and the Sharia Law in general?
(*) Maybe somebody Swedish can vouch for the veracity of the above article from the "Boycott Israeli Goods" website? I doubt it is propaganda written by Jews...
posted by von Schlichtningen @ 05:19
10 comments
10 Comments:
Jesus Christ!
Yes I am Swedish, but I don't even know where to start. So much hatred and misinformation about Sweden in one single blog.
But then again, feel free to ask me specific questions, and I'll be happy to properly inform you about the real truth (unlike the stuff that you've obviously picked up from some shady internet sites here and there).
There are some errors in the article. Most seriously, the politician announcing a personal boycott against Israeli products was Lena Hjelm-Wallén, Swedish Foreign Minister between 1994 and 1998. As far as I know, Anna Lindh never promoted a boycott against Israel. This was her standpoint in 2003 (quoted from wikipedia):
[Anna Lindh] advocated greater respect for international law and human rights in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, criticising Ariel Sharon's government in Israel, but also condemning Palestine suicide bombings as "atrocities". In a January 30, 2003 speech, she called on Israel to "end the occupation, give up settlements, and agree on a pragmatic solution to Jerusalem" and on the Palestinians to "do everything in their power to stop the terrorist acts, and take legal measures against those responsible" and to "produce reform, for security, but also for democracy and human rights".
PM Göran Persson's standpoint is pretty much the same.
Another prominent social democrat who did condemn Israel was Swedish diplomat Sverker Åström.
Some spelling errors:
"Stein Anderson" should be "Sten Andersson". He was indeed a personal friend (or rather a devoted fan) of Arafat.
The Swedish town of "Obsala" should be Uppsala.
I live in Sweden, and while I can't vouch for thses incidents specifically, they seem plausible and are probably true.
I do however wonder what's so exceptional about it? Considering that Israel is conducting an illegal occupation which the UN several times have condemned and even drafted resolutions about, why is it strange that Sweden would urge the EU to uphold these resolutions?
Also, Arafat has been mentioned in the media being everything from a bloodthirsty terrorist to a peaceproclaiming leader, that's possible with free press (even though if our secret police really did pressure an internet-provider to cut off the nazi-close party Sweden Democrats homepage, maybe not so free press anymore)...
You seem to be offended by what's been written on some banners during demonstrations, is the swedish people or even our government responsible for what individuals decide to put on banners?
Do you equate those nuts in America who shout that all abortionist doctors should be killed with the entire american people?
Lastly, why do you think that Sweden is supporting human rights violations from the arabs because we're criticising human rights violations done by Israel? We condemn these crimes wherever their committed.
If we take the media for example, they're fairly pro-Israel. If there is a suicide-bomber who blows himself up in Israel there's always an indepth interview with families of the victims and a real focus on the tragedy (wich of course is a needed angle to show the extreme stupidity and meaninglessness of this kind of violence), but when Israel levels a Palestinian village to the ground, killing women and children there's usually just a short clip saying Israel made an offensive move today...
I just want to point out also that when the swedish (government?) are critizising Israel, it is the Israeli government and their politics that are being critizised, NOT the jewish people.
Hope to get some answers to my questions and I'll be back to answer anything you'd like me to elaborate on.
/Martin
Leading Social Democratic Party is sympathetic with Arabs???
Well we Swedes tend to sympetaise with every etnicgroup. Even Americans. Even tough USA tend to invade every country that
"trethends democracy" or have oil.
Anonymous 1 - how do I contact you?
Jacob. Thank you very much for the information. I shall put in the article as an alternative truth until I have more sources.
But I continue to think the support for the Arabs is overwhelming in relation to fanatic Muslim atrocities and the facts.
Likewise in Denmark and many other countries. It seems there is a division here depending on whether you are left or right wing.
Even so a democratic country like Israel is generally regarded worse then Arab dictatorships, countries with no human rights at all? (and yes I do realize Israel has its faults)
I have studied the UN/Israel relations and I think it looks suspicious.
See this article. The numbers are official UN numbers.
http://hmmh.blogspot.com/2006/01/why-does-point-of-view-of-muslims.html
Somebody us good at propaganda.
Anonymous 2.
See this link:
UN versus Israel
http://hmmh.blogspot.com/2006/01/why-does-point-of-view-of-muslims.html
Yes, that party is distasteful. But in a democracy you can not have official judges of other people's political standpoints. If so you may be judged one day. Judged not fit to work or not fit to vote. The problem is. Who chooses the judges? Democracies are also about letting minorities getting their say as distasteful as that may seem.
Do you feel the same way about communists as venstredemokraterna (I think that was the name of the extreme right party)? In fact Stalin and Mao each killed more people than the Nazis.
No, you are clearly not responsible for the banners. But have banners with the opposite opinion ever been shown?
I never saw any in Denmark blaiming Palestinians or demonstrating against human rights abuses in Muslim countries.
Rarely is evertyhing just black or just white. But grey. I feel countries like Sweden have become too colored.
About censorship see also:
http://hmmh.blogspot.com/2006/02/one-track-mind.html
Once a terrorist always a terrorist. Arafat might have been more than just a terrorist. But a terrorist he was.
Of course it is the country Israel you criticize when criticizing Israel. I do not consider the Swedish fascist or racist.
On the contrary I like Sweden and Swedes a lot. But you are straying from the path of freedom and you do have too colored opinions. Also you suffer from a sad state of political correctness.
Best,
Hey there! Anonymous 2 is back...
I read the post you linked to, and frankly I'm not sure what the relevance is. I do agree that if what you translated is true (I haven't seen much of the past reports of the UN) the UN should try to take a better look at the rest of the world and act accordingly. Personally I think the UN is a too weak organization to work efficiently and the system of several countries having veto is just plain stupid. I'd like it if the UN got a thourough reorganization. Also, maybe all the resolutions against Israel might have something to do with the fact that Israel never complies and just keeps doing these atrocities...that said I do agree that ALL countries who don't follow human rights should be condemned and preferrably also punished (diplomatically and with sanctions from the rest of the world), and that includes all the despotic arab states as well as the US of A.
I also never disagreed with you about that the homepage should not have been stopped. It was a clear case of abuse of power.
I'm sorry, but I have no idea what venstredemokraterna stands for but I don't have a lot of sympathy for either Stalin or Mao...
About the banners, you might be right that the opposite haven't been used in big demonstrations (at least I haven't seen it), but there's always a lot of people in the opinions section in all newspapers, and on the Internet who voice those opinions.
Personally I can't really see the problem with a banner saying Bush is a killer. Whether you're for or against the Iraq war, it's still a reality that the americans are there killing people and that Bush is their commander in chief.
Concerning your other bloglink, I don't think I have the time to comment on that right now (I'm at work), but I'll say two things. First, a lot of people in Sweden are protesting against these Gestapo-methods being used by the government and the new laws one of our ministers (Thomas Bodström) is trying to pass. They're just another step on the way to a totalitarian society (we're always trying to mimic USA and UK...) and that frightens me immensely.
Second, why do you talk like all muslims are alike? Most people in Sweden condemn the extremist islamists who use threats and violence to get their way as well as despotic regimes. But of the worlds 1.6 billion muslims only a fraction wants violence, and in the despotic countries my guess is that the demonstrations are incited by their government.
Nelson Mandela was considered to be a terrorist in the beginning of ANC. Do you consider him to always be a terrorist? (and no, I'm in no way comparing Mandela and Arafat :-))
'Nuff said for now. Any more questions?
/Martin
"Hey there! Anonymous 2 is back..."
Hi Martin
"I read the post you linked to, and frankly I'm not sure what the relevance is..."
I think we both agree the UN is broken. I would like to see som changes too. But a simple majority is not the answer either or the 50 Muslim countries will attack Israel.
And of course Israel deserves condemnation. They are educated people living in a democracy. They should know better.
But half of all condemnations of the UN against one small country? That is absurd.
"About the banners, you might be right that the opposite haven't been used in big demonstrations (at least I haven't seen it), but there's always a lot of people in the opinions section in all newspapers, and on the Internet who voice those opinions."
True, but I still wonder why. For me it is so blatant, that I see propaganda behind all this. And I have seen in the last few days how good the Muslim countries are at propaganda."
"Personally I can't really see the problem with a banner saying Bush is a killer. Whether you're for or against the Iraq war, it's still a reality that the americans are there killing people and that Bush is their commander in chief."
It just put it there to show the left leaning. But it can also be just a valid opinion as you say. And I think the Iraque situation was handled badly.
"but I'll say two things. First, a lot of people in Sweden are protesting against these Gestapo-methods being used by the government and the new laws one of our ministers (Thomas Bodström) is trying to pass. They're just another step on the way to a totalitarian society (we're always trying to mimic USA and UK...) and that frightens me immensely."
Yes me too. And as you say, it is not only going on in Sweden either.
"Second, why do you talk like all muslims are alike? Most people in Sweden condemn the extremist islamists who use threats and violence to get their way as well as despotic regimes. But of the worlds 1.6 billion muslims only a fraction wants violence, and in the despotic countries my guess is that the demonstrations are incited by their government."
I do not dislike all Muslims. See my disclaimer (link from this blogs header). But I do dislike all Muslim countries and all Fanatic Muslims (as well as all other fanatics in this world).
I also think it is a fraction who is fanatic. But I think it is larger than I would like to hope. Why do we never see Moderate Muslims demonstrating against human rights abuses? In Denmark they have started a little? I dislike the religion as it is blocking human rights in so many countries. Stoning, maiming, discrimination etc., etc." It is the only religion that is a political system too with its own set of laws.
"Nelson Mandela was considered to be a terrorist in the beginning of ANC. Do you consider him to always be a terrorist? (and no, I'm in no way comparing Mandela and Arafat :-))"
Mandela is a special case. But I can follow your logic. But to my knowledge he has not killed innocents. Arafat did.
"'Nuff said for now. Any more questions?"
Not right now. But thank you very much for the dialogue. With people like you there is still great hope for Sweden. If a country is kept free - I believe the people will create civilization.
Best regards,
Peter
It's me again!
I see this thread is probably dead, but I just wanted to comment some things.
First, I'm quite sceptical that 50 Muslim countries would attack Israel if the UN reformed. I doubt it's because of the UN they aren't attacking today (if that's their intention).
Secondly, I have to say I don't like your phrasing when you say you dislike all Muslim countries. I guess (hope) you mean all islamist countries, who all too often show a total disregard to human rights and such, and not for example Indonesia which is the worlds biggest Muslim country, but do not adhere to sharia and has democratic elections. I do know they aren't all that good considering the government military's abuses in Aceh (before the Tsunami) and so on, but they're no worse then the US...
What I don't like about that kind of phrasing is that it just enhances the islamophobia in the west by implying that all Muslims are bad, and at the same time it builds on the 'westphobia' (I'm allowed to make up my own word, right?) in the Muslim world, showing that we don't know the difference between people who practice a peaceful religion and people who use religion as an excuse for oppression.
Also, I think that the moderate Muslims demonstrates from time to time, but that wouldn't give a good headline in the media and therefore we don't hear about it. Just take the riots in Gothenburg during the EU-meeting some years ago, we had some of the biggest peaceful demonstrations in decades wich only got a very small mention in the media and the rest was about the riots...Admittedly the riots was exceptional, but anyway, that's the media.
I also like to have a dialoge in this way. I guess I'll have to look around your blog and find something else ýou write to disagree with ;-)
See you around.
/Martin
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