Anti-Israel demonstrations at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Swede, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The number of Jews in Malmö is roughly 500, contrasted with the number of Muslims, which is over 50,000. According to the Islamic Center in Malmö, the number of Muslims is much higher, as many Muslims choose not to register with a Muslim congregation.
Historically, antisemitism in Sweden came mainly from right-wing extremists, with Swedish politicians quickly condemning it when it occurred. But in recent years, the sharp rise of antisemitism in Sweden has come mainly from citizens with immigrant-Muslim backgrounds. Nonetheless, there is immense hesitation from the Swedish government to openly address the issue, with many politicians abstaining from tackling it because of the fear of being accused of Islamophobia.
Numerous studies and surveys have shown there is a correlation between Islamism and the rise of contemporary antisemitism in Western societies, including Sweden. In regards to Sweden, Islam, in a short time, has become the second biggest religion in Sweden. Approximately 20% of Sweden’s 10 million population are of non-Swedish origin; according to some estimations, 810,000 Muslims live in Sweden. Sweden, like other European countries, has experienced a massive surge of refugees and immigrants since 2010. The majority of them were Muslims. Between 2014 and 2016, Sweden was second after Germany in taking in refugees, mainly Syrians fleeing the civil war; it took in over 200,000, with 77% being Muslims.
According to projections by the Pew Research Center, the number of Muslims in Sweden will sharply rise within the coming two decades; Sweden “is projected to have the highest share of Muslims (12.4%) in total population among the Western European countries by 2050.”
A survey conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), titled “Experience and perception of Antisemitism – factsheet –Sweden,” found “40 % of the cases identified the perpetrator as someone with a Muslim extremist view, 27 % – as someone with a left-wing political view.”
A study commissioned by the Living History Forum and BRA, “Antisemitism in Sweden: A comparison of attitudes and ideas in 2005 and 2020,” concluded that “the great prevalence of antisemitic attitudes found respondents born outside the Nordic region, and even more so among those born outside Europe – a large proportion of whom came from the Middle East – may well reflect the adoption of antisemitic attitudes and ideas found in their countries of birth.” The report added, “It should be noted that antisemitism is comparatively more widespread and politically legitimate in countries in the Middle East.”
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs approached Magnus Sandelin, a Swedish journalist, author, and lecturer with many years of experience mapping and examining extremist movements in Sweden. Sandelin said the fact there were people in Sweden openly celebrating and hailing Hamas’s October 7 atrocities shows that Sweden has a serious antisemitic problem. When asked who these people were, he said, “People with origins in the Middle East and those who belong to some extreme political camps both on the left and the right.”
However, he continued, that most people in Sweden were shocked by the horrific killings Hamas committed against Israeli civilians, but this “general sympathy for the Israeli victims turned to the usual accusation that Israel is committing crimes against the population in Gaza.” One of the main reasons for that, Sandelin argued, is Swedish media, whom he criticizes and blames for being a contributing factor in whipping up anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments.
He told us, “Information from Hamas has been uncritically published and often without any verification. Perspectives that are critical of Israel are usually chosen, and Swedish media rarely place any blame and responsibility on Hamas.” When asked, “Why is Swedish media so critical of Israel?” He replied, “It’s a good question. It seems to be in the walls of many newsrooms. Perhaps it has to do with a distorted power analysis where Israel is seen as the strong one and the Palestinians as the weak/oppressed.” Maybe unintentionally or maybe not, “they are entertaining and playing with the dark forces that want to wipe out the Jewish state.”
The Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö
Since October 7, there have been many protests in Sweden against Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, with many of those protests openly having antisemitic prevalences. Sandelin also argued that the younger generation has poor knowledge of the history of the conflict. Without further questioning, “they adopt a ready-made opinion package in which Israel is falsely portrayed as a colonial power, an apartheid state committing genocide.”
Sandelin shared with us his views about what occurred in Malmö during the Eurovision Song Contest: “What went on there was a massive and merciless manifestation of hatred against Israel and against Jews in general, driven mainly by immigrants from countries in the Middle East where antisemitism is legitimate and widespread.” Unfortunately, he said, “it’s been going on for many years. It’s like the boiling frog slowly getting used to the hot water. And with many in Sweden failing to understand how seriously dangerous the situation is becoming.” Today in Sweden, “Jews feel that they no longer can live in Malmö with many thinking to leave Sweden where Jewish kindergartens and schools must have armed guards. Where an Israeli 20-year-old artist (referring to singer Eden Golan) cannot leave her hotel room for fear of being murdered.”
Sandelin told JCPA, “I was ashamed as a Swede and as a human being to see how the mob behaved during Eurovision, with boos and bullying against Israel and against Eden Golan.” The fact that Golan’s song Hurricane received the top vote from the Swedish public, Sandelin explained, “shows that most Swedes are on Israel’s side, and let’s not forget they are the majority, but the boycotters and Israel-haters are just louder,” added Sandelin.
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Source link : https://jcpa.org/the-uncomfortable-truth-about-malmo-sweden-the-host-of-the-european-song-festival/
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Publish date : 2024-05-26 07:00:00
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