Showing posts with label Sweden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweden. Show all posts

Friday, January 19, 2024

‘It Might As Well Be Me’: Young Swedes Prepare for New Form of National Service

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Historically neutral Sweden prioritises civil defence amid concerns of preparing for possible war

Students at Anna Whitlocks in Stockholm who have been conscripted for military service as Sweden reintroduces form of national service Photograph: Miranda Bryant/The Guardian

When Hedda Johannesson, like most of her school year group, received a questionnaire to determine whether she would be conscripted for military service, she considered herself anti-war.

But, having passed the necessary intelligence, physical and psychological tests, the 18-year-old behavioural science student will soon spend 11 months learning about chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare.

It’s been only a year and a half since Sweden submitted its Nato application, marking a sharp change in the historically neutral country’s approach to defence and international relations. But in recent weeks a looming sense of potential conflict has swept the country as citizens were warned to prepare themselves for the possibility of war. » | Miranda Bryant in Stockholm | Friday, January 19, 2024

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Swedish Alarm after Defence Chiefs' War Warning

BBC: A warning to Swedes from two top defence officials to prepare for war has prompted concern and accusations of alarmism.

Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin told a defence conference "there could be war in Sweden".

His message was then backed up by military commander-in-chief Gen Micael Byden, who said all Swedes should prepare mentally for the possibility.

However, opposition politicians have objected to the tone of the warnings.

Ex-prime minister Magdalena Andersson told Swedish TV that while the security situation was serious, "it is not as if war is just outside the door." » | Paul Kirby, BBC News | Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Why Can't Sweden Get Gang Violence under Control? | Focus on Europe

Dec 10, 2023 | This has never happened before in Sweden: The government has called in the army to help combat rampant gang violence in the cities. The police seem overwhelmed, the politicians helpless. In 2022, 62 people were killed in shootings. And both perpetrators and victims are getting younger. During his research in Stockholm and Uppsala, our reporter wants to find out: Why is this wave of violence hitting 'tranquil' Sweden of all places...Why can't the authorities get it under control? Is the situation partly due to a failed integration policy? And: What are the ways out of the violence? Our reporter meets ex-gangsters, survivors, police officers and social workers. | Report: Gunnar Köhne


Diese Sendung ist auch auf Deutsch hier erhältlich.

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Combatting Sweden's Surging Gang Violence | DW News

Nov 1, 2023 | The Swedish government has announced new plans for tougher law enforcement to try to break the cycle of gang violence that's risen to levels never before imagined. The government will also set up youth councils around the country. Teri Schultz visited the southern city of Helsingborg where local activists already have the model but need more money.


This is an appalling state of affairs! Social workers will not be able to put a stop to this despicabale behaviour. Full national service is the answer. (I believe that Sweden has only partial conscription.) A stint in the military. These young people need to be taught discipline, self-respect and how to respect others. – © Mark Alexander

Saturday, October 28, 2023

What Happened to Our Country? Sweden Has Been Transformed by Multiculturalism - Lars Åberg

Oct 26, 2023 | Writer and journalist Lars Åberg reflects on how Sweden changed - seemingly overnight - from being a welcoming and tolerant country, to one plagued by ethnic division and danger. From our conference 'The Diversity Obsession: Can Europe Survive Multiculturalism'.


Western women need to start giving birth again. They need to start making babies instead of making careers. Feminism lies at the root of so many of our problems in Western societies. – © Mark Alexander

Thursday, September 07, 2023

The Escalating Frequency of Quran Burnings in Sweden and Denmark Sparks Outrage in the Muslim World

Sep 4, 2023 | The burning of the Quran in Denmark and Sweden has raised security concerns both domestically and internationally for the traditionally secular Nordic nations. Denmark has recently suggested a ban on burning all sacred texts. Could this move by Copenhagen be a solution that balances the preservation of freedom of speech while also addressing security and diplomatic challenges?


That Denmark is re-introducing a form of blasphemy law to deal with these Quran burnings is as insane as it is outrageous. This will put Denmark, once a bastion of enlightened liberal values, on a fast track to the ‘New Dark Age’ I wrote of so many years ago!

It is not difficult to understand WHY the Danish government may conclude that this is the right political decision; but it is NOT. The re-introduction of ANY form of blasphemy law is WRONG. And it is wrong in so many ways and for so many reasons.

The blasphemy law in Denmark has only relatively recently been repealed. I am pretty sure that it was never, if ever, used by the Danish Christian community. But here, we are dealing with a very different community! The Muslim community will take every opportunity to use this law against any perceived transgressor. Be sure of one thing, Denmark: The Danish courts will used by Muslims to help firmly establish Islam’s hoped-for supremacy in the country.

By re-introducing a rejigged blasphemy law into the nation’s statute books, Denmark is embarking on a new journey on a very slippery and dangerous road.

This is the beginning of the end of true freedom for the Danes. – © Mark Alexander

Wednesday, September 06, 2023

Being Gay in Brazil vs Being Gay in Sweden

Feb 24, 2021 | First published in August, 2020. | Thiago is originally from the north of Brazil, but has been living in Sweden with his husband for the past 2.5 years. In this video, he discusses the differences between being gay in Brazil and neing gay in Sweden.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Köttbullar: How to Make Real Swedish Meatballs

Aug 26, 2023 | IKEA may have made them famous all over the world, but köttbullar existed before the furniture store was founded. Swedish meatballs are usually served with a special sauce, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad and lingonberries. We travelled to Gothenburg to learn more about the recipe of Sweden's national dish. But do they really come from Sweden? Let's find out.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Sweden Raises Terrorist Threat Level after Qur’an Burnings

THE GUARDIAN: Threat raised to second highest level as Sweden deems itself an ‘increased focus’ for Islamic extremists

Supporters of a radical Islamist party burn the Swedish flag during a rally in Karachi, Pakistan.Photograph: Fareed Khan/AP

Sweden has raised its terrorist threat level to the second highest number possible, amid heightened security fears following a string of Qur’an burnings that have caused outrage around the world.

Raising the threat level from three, meaning “heightened threat”, to four, “high threat” on the five-point scale, the Swedish security service (Säpo) said that in recent months Sweden has shifted from a “legitimate” to a “prioritised” target for acts of terror.

It is the first time since 2016 that the country has changed its threat level to four.

Making the announcement on Thursday in Stockholm, Charlotte von Essen, the director general of Säpo, said that Sweden was becoming an “increased focus” for Islamic extremists. » | Miranda Bryant in Copenhagen | Thursday, August 17, 2023

Profanations du Coran : la Suède relève son niveau d’alerte terroriste : Après que plusieurs profanations du Coran ont eu lieu sur son sol, le pays nordique s’inquiète des réactions qui font du pays une « cible prioritaire ». »

Al-Kaida ruft nach Koranverbrennung in Skandinavien zu Anschlägen auf: Die Terrorgruppe Al-Kaida reagiert auf die öffentlichen Koranverbrennungen: Sie ruft dazu auf, die Botschaften von Schweden und Dänemark zu sprengen. »

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Swedish PM ‘Extremely Worried’ as More Apply to Burn Qur’an

THE GUARDIAN: Ulf Kristersson says ‘there is a clear risk of something serious happening’ amid growing Muslim anger at the attacks on Islam’s holy book

The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has said that he is “extremely worried” about the consequences if more demonstrations go ahead in which the Qur’an is desecrated, amid growing Muslim anger at a series of attacks on Islam’s holy book.

Attacks on the Qur’an in Sweden and Denmark have offended many Muslim countries, including Turkey, whose backing Sweden needs to join Nato – a goal of Stockholm’s after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kristersson told the Swedish news agency TT that further requests had been filed with police for permission to hold protests where desecration of the Qur’an was again planned.

“If they are granted, we are going to face some days where there is a clear risk of something serious happening,” he said. “I am extremely worried about what it could lead to.” » | Reuters in Stockholm | Thursday, July 27, 2023

Monday, July 10, 2023

Turkey Backs Sweden's Nato Membership - Stoltenberg

BBC: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join Nato, the military alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg says.

He said the Turkish leader would forward Sweden's bid to the parliament in Ankara and "ensure ratification".

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden."

Turkey had previously spent months blocking Sweden's application, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants.

As one of Nato's 31 members, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the group.

Reacting to the news, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the commitment by President Erdogan to proceed with "swift ratification". » | BBC | Monday, July 10, 2023

Glücklich über das Ende der „Basarverhandlungen“: Erleichterung in Stockholm: Der türkische Präsident Erdogan hat seine Blockadepolitik aufgegeben. Die Regierung in Stockholm betont, man habe keine neuen Zugeständnisse gemacht, um den NATO-Beitritt möglich zu machen. »

Erdogan Says E.U. Must ‘Clear the Way’ for Turkey Before It Will Support Sweden’s NATO Bid

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Turkish president’s surprising new demand was bound to frustrate other leaders in the military alliance one day before a high-profile summit.

“Nobody should expect compromise nor understanding from me,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. | Umit Bektas/Reuters

ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Monday that the European Union should open the way for Turkey to join the bloc before Turkey allows Sweden to join NATO, adding a surprising new condition that could further stall the military alliance’s efforts to expand.

Mr. Erdogan’s latest demand came a day before the opening of NATO’s two-day annual summit, where leaders, including President Biden, had hoped to secure unanimous approval from member states to allow Sweden to become the 32nd member.

That outcome now appears increasingly unlikely, with Mr. Erdogan posing the main obstacle to Sweden’s membership.

“First, clear the way for Turkey in the European Union, then we will clear the way for Sweden as we did for Finland,” Mr. Erdogan told reporters before traveling to the NATO summit. » | Ben Hubbard | Monday, July 10, 2023

‘You Are the Future of Europe,’ Erdogan Tells Turks: Calling Turks the “future of Europe,” Turkey’s president on Friday implored his compatriots living on the Continent to have multiple children as an act of revenge against the West’s “injustices.” »

Erdoğan Builds Another Mega-Mosque, This Time in Germany: The City Council of Wuppertal, a municipality in western Germany with a substantial Muslim population, has voted to approve the construction of a controversial new mega-mosque that will be controlled by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a tireless propagator of political Islam in Europe. »

Erdogan is like Janus: His face looks in two directions! One minute he looks West; the next, East.

If Europe wants to be Islamized, its leaders need to pave the way for Turkey’s accession to the European Union. If, however, they want Europe to remain largely Judæo Christian, …

Tough choices lie ahead. – © Mark Alexander

Thursday, June 29, 2023

NATO Responds to Swedish Quran Burning

Jun 29, 2023 | NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that he understood the emotion caused by the burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden but urged for a compromise over Sweden's accession to NATO.

Koran-burning Protest Could Further Delay Sweden's Bid to Join NATO • FRANCE 24 English

Jun 29, 2023 | A man tore up and burned a Koran outside Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday, an event that risks angering Turkey as Sweden bids to join NATO, after Swedish police granted permission for the protest to take place.

Burning of Quran in Stockholm Sparks Outrage in Muslim World

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Sweden has been widely condemned for allowing the burning of the Muslim holy book outside a mosque on Wednesday during Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic holiday.

The burning of a Quran outside a mosque in Sweden on one of the holiest days in Islam sparked outrage Thursday in many Muslim countries and widespread condemnations of the Swedish authorities.

In Iraq, several hundred people protested outside the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad at the urging of Muqtada al-Sadr, a populist cleric who called on the Iraqi government to break off diplomatic relations with Sweden, which he called “hostile” to Islam.

The crowd became increasingly angry, scaling the wall surrounding the compound and pushing through an external gate. There was no sign that Iraqi diplomatic police forces attempted to stop them. The protesters did not enter the embassy itself, which was closed for the Islamic holiday, and eventually left. Mr. Sadr called for larger protests after prayers on Friday.

Iraq’s foreign ministry also condemned Sweden “for allowing an extremist to burn a copy of the holy Quran.”

In the incident in Stockholm on Wednesday, two men, watched by a crowd of people, tore pages out of a Quran and burned them outside a mosque. » | Alissa J. Rubin and Isabella Kwai, Alissa Rubin reported from Baghdad, and Isabella Kwai from London | Thursday, June 29, 2023

Sunday, June 25, 2023

One Killed and Several Injured in Stockholm as Rollercoaster Derails

THE GUARDIAN: Witnesses say Jetline ride, which reaches 55mph and heights of 30 metres, partly left the tracks

One person has been killed and nine injured, including children, in a rollercoaster accident at an amusement park in Stockholm.

Witnesses said the Jetline ride at the Gröna Lund theme park had partly derailed during a ride on Sunday, sending people crashing to the ground.

“This is tragic and shocking, and regrettably we’ve learned that one person has died,” Gröna Lund spokesperson Annika Troselius told public broadcaster SVT. » | Reuters in Stockholm | Sunday, June 25, 2023

Monday, May 29, 2023

Can a New Bridge Unite Sweden's Divided Society? | Focus on Europe

May 28, 2023 | A new bridge in Stockholm is set to connect a wealthy area with an underprivileged district. But some people are objecting to it, triggering a divisive debate in Swedish society.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Absolut Vodka Exports to Russia Discontinued after Outcry in Sweden

THE GUARDIAN: Firm’s owner, Pernod Ricard, faced calls for boycott and political pressure after resuming some exports in April

Absolut’s chief executive said the firm did not want to expose its staff and partners to ‘massive criticism’. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The maker of Sweden’s Absolut vodka has said it is ceasing all exports to Russia after calls to boycott the brand flared up in Sweden and on social media.

The Absolut Company said it had “decided to stop the export of its brand to Russia”.

Stephanie Durroux, the firm’s chief executive, said in a statement that the company was exercising its “duty of care” towards its employees and partners. “We cannot expose them to massive criticism in all forms,” she added. » | Agence France-Presse in Stockholm | Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Monday, April 10, 2023

Abba’s Long-serving Guitarist Lasse Wellander Dies

THE GUARDIAN: Band hail ‘brilliance’ of session musician who has died aged 70 after being diagnosed with cancer

Abba have paid tribute to the “musical brilliance” of their longstanding guitarist, Lasse Wellander, who has died aged 70 after being diagnosed with cancer.

The musician, who played on the band’s biggest albums and toured with them between 1975 and 1980, died early on Friday “surrounded by his loved ones”, his family said.

The Abba band members, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, said in a statement: “Lasse was a dear friend, a fun guy and a superb guitarist. The importance of his creative input in the recording studio as well as his rock solid guitar work on stage was immense. » | Emine Sinmaz | Monday, April 10, 2023

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Sweden Is Becoming Unbearable

Supporters of the Sweden Democrats political party during its election night rally. | Jonathan Nackstrand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

OPINION: GUEST ESSAY

THE NEW YORK TIMES: STOCKHOLM — “Helg seger.”

Those two words, spoken by Rebecka Fallenkvist, a 27-year-old media figure and politician from the Sweden Democrats, the far-right party that took 20 percent in Sweden’s general election last week, sent shivers down spines throughout the country. It’s not the phrase, which is odd and means “weekend victory.” It’s the sound: one letter away from “Hell seger,” the Swedish translation of the Nazi salute “Sieg Heil,” and the war cry of Swedish Nazis for decades.

Ms. Fallenkvist was quick to disavow any Nazi associations. She meant to declare the weekend a victorious one, she said, but the words came out in the wrong order. Perhaps that’s true. But the statement would be entirely in keeping with the party Ms. Fallenkvist represents which, after a steady rise, is now likely to play a major role in the next government.

For Sweden, a country that trades on being a bastion of social democracy, tolerance and fairness, it’s a shock. But perhaps it shouldn’t be. Steadily rising for the past decade, the Swedish far right has profited from the country’s growing inequalities, fostering an obsession with crime and an antipathy to migrants. Its advance marks the end of Swedish exceptionalism, the idea that the country stood out both morally and materially.

There’s no doubt about the party’s Nazi origins. The Sweden Democrats was created in 1988 out of a neo-Nazi group called B.S.S., or Keep Sweden Swedish, and of the party’s 30 founding fathers, 18 had Nazi affiliations, according to a historian and former party member, Tony Gustaffson. Some of the founding fathers had even served in Hitler’s Waffen SS. » | Elisabeth Asbrink * | Tuesday, September 20, 2022

* Ms. Asbrink is the author of “1947: Where Now Begins” and “Made in Sweden: 25 Ideas That Created a Country.