Title: Sweden’s Freedom of Expression Under Scrutiny in the Wake of Brussels Attacks
Subtitle: Contradictory Messages from Swedish Leaders Raises Concerns
Date: [current date]
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Brussels, Swedish nationals living abroad find themselves facing difficult questions about their country’s famed freedom of expression. The media in various countries, including France, seek to understand how Sweden, renowned for its admired social model, is evolving in light of recent events.
The current perception of Sweden abroad paints a confusing picture. Ideas about destructive freedom of expression, far-right government influence, and legally sanctioned Islamophobia dominate the discourse. While Sweden’s freedom of expression foundation is rarely a central topic in domestic debates, recent incidents have brought it to the forefront.
Discussions occasionally emerge regarding what should and should not be published, the potential offensiveness of artistic creations, and which magazines should be allowed at book fairs. However, these debates concerning suitability and media ethics hardly scratch the surface when it comes to the true nature of freedom of speech. It is about the boundaries of what can be said or written without facing legal consequences.
The way different countries approach this issue is deeply rooted in their modern history. A French journalist, for example, expressed astonishment a few years ago about the Nazis’ right to demonstrate on Swedish streets. Such manifestations, like those carried out by the Nordic Resistance Movement, are unthinkable in countries like Germany, which experienced Nazi occupation during World War II. Since the 1950s, Germany has banned approximately a hundred right-wing extremist organizations. Similarly, France is the only democracy where calling for a boycott of Israeli goods is forbidden.
Italy explicitly outlaws the formation of political parties with the word “fascism” in their names. Meanwhile, Spain recently passed a law banning the “glorification of the Franco regime” in its lower house. The effectiveness of these measures, however, remains open to debate. Italy, for instance, is currently governed by a party that takes pride in fascism as part of its identity, and Spain’s political landscape has been influenced by Vox, a party that challenges prevailing norms.
A few years ago, Swedish politicians hastily proposed a set of “Swedish Values” that immigrants were expected to adopt for integration purposes. These included equality, individual responsibility, public access, and shaking hands as a greeting. However, this exercise proved to be more embarrassing than effective, simply a display of empty rhetoric.
Sweden’s oldest-in-the-world freedom of expression laws and regulations on freedom of the press are unique and could have been powerful tools for promoting Swedish values internationally. However, Sweden’s lack of advocacy for these values has been apparent. Politicians have often been hesitant to defend these laws for fear of upsetting foreign despots. The Swedish constitution guarantees indisputable values from both the left and right, differentiating Sweden from the repressive regimes from which many immigrants to Sweden originate.
Yet, the recent comments from Swedish leaders have raised concerns. Prime Minister’s statements regarding the burning of the Koran as “inappropriate” even though it is legal, along with the justice committee chair’s call for further burning of religious texts, present a contradictory message. This contradiction places Swedes living abroad in the difficult position of explaining that the right to desecrate religious scriptures is not the same as inciting violence against religious groups. Freedom of speech encompasses objectionable opinions, which is precisely the essence of its existence.
As a result, being a Swede abroad at this moment becomes a challenging task of explaining the intricacies of freedom of expression. Unfortunately, the inconsistent positions taken by Swedish politicians on this matter only serve to complicate the situation further.
As Sweden grapples with these complexities, one can only hope for a more cohesive and resolute defense of the country’s cherished values, ensuring that Sweden remains a beacon of freedom and open dialogue in an increasingly uncertain world.
Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT