Swedish journalists vilified and threatened by rising anti-democratic extremists

Expression

According to the Index on Censorship, Swedish journalism is currently under attack from rising anti-democratic extremism. Although the environment for journalists in Sweden is much safer than in many other places around the world, the number of death threats against Swedish journalists have increased in recent years, making their work more precarious and unpredictable.

Evelyn Schreiber, a reporter with a regional newspaper, was threatened online after writing an article questioning the statistics used by a controversial local police officer who had attracted media attention when he wrote a Facebook post on violent crime caused by immigrants in Örebro, a town in central Sweden. Schreiber received several intimidating messages and outright threats, including the image of a noose posted on her personal Facebook page. Other members of the newspaper staff were also threatened.

Peaceful Assembly

On 4th February 2017, hundreds took to the streets of Stockholm to protest US President Donald Trump's controversial "Muslim travel ban", an executive order banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US for at least 90 days. 

On 9th March 2017, two days after a truck attack killed four people outside the Åhléns department store on Drottninggatan, there was a large demonstration on Sergels torg, very close to the crime scene. Tens of thousands gathered to honour the victims with a moment of silence. Promoted as a "love demonstration", the vigil was attended by politicians, activists and artists.