Hate crimes in Sweden

Theme: Hate crimes

In Sweden 55% of hate crimes are racist with black people worst affected, 17 % focus on religious identity with Muslims and Jews worst affected, and 13% of hate crimes target people due to their sexual identity.

Hate crimes can take place in public places, on the internet, around the home, at work and in schools. These crimes can lead to shock, fear, insecurity and depression. It can also lead people to hide their religious or sexual identity and to withdraw from public roles that place them at risk.

Threats and harassment are the most common forms of hate crime reported, along with hate speech on social media. Crimes facing religious groups range from verbal abuse, being pushed, a headscarf being pulled to threats, severe forms of violence, vandalism of religious sites and arson. Research has shown that Muslim women, particularly those who wear religious clothing, such as the hijab, are more likely to experience hate crimes committed by strangers in public spaces, while Muslim men are more likely to experience hate crimes from neighbours or colleagues.

Sylvia Bäckström, a member of the Jewish association in Umeå, northern Sweden says “Very few Jews, in fact no-one, dares to wear a kippa in central Umeå.” In the southern city of Malmö, Rabbi Shneur Kesselman had registered over 80 cases of harassment and threats to police, after only 7 years living in the country. Many hate crimes go unreported.

Sources 
The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
Expressen ledare
Expressen kronikör