by ALEKSANDRA ERIKSSON
An ‘arrival center’ in Malmoe. Some journalists and social media users accuse the Sweden Democrats (SD) for fuelling hatred against migrants PHOTO/Swedish Civic Contingencies Agency
In the month of October alone, ten asylum homes caught fire in Sweden in suspected cases of arson. As police search for the culprits, a debate has erupted on who, or what, is responsible.
”We announced that the building would become an asylum home and it was set ablaze the following night”, Olle Reichenberg, the municipal chairman of Danderyd, a wealthy Stockholm suburb, told Swedish radio. ”It seems clear to me what the motive was.”
The former kindergarten in was just one of ten buildings that caught fire during the month of October in suspected cases of arson in different parts of the country. The police has so far not found any incendiary device.
Some journalists and social media users accuse Sweden’s right-wing party, the Sweden Democrats (SD) for fuelling hatred against migrants. In particular, local politician Ted Ekeroth published on Facebook a list of buildings about to be used for asylum seekers.
His twin brother Kent, an MP, urged a street audience to ”use every method” and show ”the establishment” that ”the people” oppose receiving more asylum seekers.
”You are a resistance movement”, he said, ”a spearhead to take our country back.”
Sweden Democrats’ leader Jimmie Akesson was subsequently urged to distance himself from these actions. Akesson finally published a message on his Facebook page condemning both the fires and threats against SD politicians.
”Very much in our country is absolutely crazy. I affirm that it is about to go down the drain,” he wrote.
“But what do they expect to achieve by setting fire to buildings and risking lives of innocent people? What do they believe to gain from using language that further worsens the debate? … No one is allowed to express themselves in a way that reinforces hatred and fear. No one has the right to exercise force. Arson and threats are serious crimes that should be punished”
Akesson announced he would pray for Sweden, despite not being a believer.
But Social Democratic foreign minister Margot Wallström said this was insufficient.
”Their rhetoric feeds fears. It can become the trigger for attacks for those who have evil thoughts and are themselves afraid”, she told Dagens Nyheter daily a day after the post was published.
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