Swedish papers leap to defence of 'open society'

It's getting harder and harder for some to ignore the results of the failed asylum seeker/refugee policies here in Sweden. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Sweden and Denmark, two of the most innocuous and passive countries in the world are subject to such violent acts as they are now experiencing. I mean suicide bombers... in Sweden?? Mumbai-style ambushes in Danmark?? Is this for real?? If you had told me 20 years ago that there were terrorist attacks in these places I would've thought you were on crack. Now, after having lived in Malmö, my reaction is more of nonchalance. Props to Socialist Folkbladet for telling it like it is when they talked about Sweden giving these idiots a 2nd chance at life and then repaying it in this manner. And props to the media outlets for surprisingly having the nads to say that they will uphold their free speech. Now Swedish politicians need to show some testicular fortitude of their own and put a stop to the importation of terrorist ideologies into its country before it's too late....and it might already be.

The Swedish papers calling for an open society are the same Swedish papers that censored the news concerning the Assange affair.

Information reported on the front pages of the world's media was either buried deep in Swedish papers days later, or nor reported at all.

We need no lectures on open society from them thank you very much.

_{Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.}

Nobody tells about responsibility of Migrationsverket and his head Tobias Billström. It is exactly he easy gives this people right live in Sweden. Come and see in Södertålje or Rinkeby - hundrets potencial terrorists.

Fine words about open-society and all that claptrap will not butter any parsnips. The very members of such a society will have to share and subscribe to such openness. Put that in the interrogative and pose it to the growing number of Muslims around. Dream on Sweden.

haha The Local is a joke to the Open Society. Why on earth are you censoring my comments? I didn't used foul language and didn't insulted anyone. Well I guess you just love to display the comments of the bigots and ignore the rest. Well Done.

Moderator Comment

Posts that are in breach of The Local's Conditions of use

will be removed.

note in particular

and

Don't worry. Mine were censored as well. Looks like some equal-opportunity censoring is going on.

but exactly what did I say that preach the local's Terms. I dont get it. It is the first time my comments have been removed while my opinion and the way I comment has changed.

I am Muslim and do you know how much pain i feel after reading the comments on thelocal everyday that generalize and label all Muslims as terrorists and people that cannot be trusted. while you allow such comments to be displayed, I cant understand why you decided to remove my genuine respectful opinion about this issue.

so freedom of speech has limits and is applied inconsistently by website with limited resources relative to the number of errant users out there - what's new?

pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with it - it ain't personal, you are anonymous for God's sake.

Secularists of the world, unite!

I think it's about time we confronted religious beliefs as the retarded ideologies they are.

humanisterna.se

@locaxy

You may have cracked the censorship dilemma , locaxy by finding the 'hate speech' the Local staff approves of.

How many "true" swedes have committed act of terrorism? None to my knowledge....

Who murdered Mrs. Lind? Not a "true" swede.

Who tried to murder Lars Vilks? Not a "true" swede.

Who tried to commit an act of terrorism in denmark? Not a "true" swede.

And the list can go on and on and on.

Meanwhile, Islamic nations are doing their best to wipe the internet clean of any mention of terrorism. I wonder if the Swedish media is aware of this...

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/12/islamic_supremacists_target_a.html

Congratulations Sweden.

Because of your indiscriminate, naive immigration policies you are now a terrorist staging ground of the likes of Yemen or Pakistan...

And when they can't operate in countries with tighter security who will they attack in the meantime? You.

The Swedish solution. Stick head in sand and ignore.

Sadly, this is probably just the beginning.

Sweden is in denial

Sweden is in full scale multi culti mode, one in which to question immigration is not just taboo, but virtually illegal. Think Britain circa 1995. Think BBC driven tyranny at its height and worst.

The Swedish establishment's take on islamic terror events is to play them down, muddy the waters, and dither until the story has past.

Who can forget that 24 hours after Carl Bildt had twittered the Stockholm explosions were an act of terror, premier Reinfeldt was still babbling that the exploding car and street explosion may simply all be some bizarre accident! Oh sure.

The reason of course is that the Reinfeldt government has opened the gates to mass immigration and it doesn't want Swedes joining the dots and realizing that their are serious consequences connected with this. After all its 2006 manifesto contained no references to mass immigration at all, it was all done, as is always the case in the EU, without seeking the consent of the population.

The Swedish media meanwhile remain what they have always been, simply a vassel of the Swedish establishment (and that includes the overly close Local.se). One ministerial phone call to an editor is all it takes to kill a story in Sweden.

As the more independently minded Danes have said, Sweden still has an awfull lot to learn about democracy and freedom of speech. That's bad enough, but Sweden's current state of establishment driven denial is dire. The worst is yet to come. And there will be no going back. Think Britain 2010.

@qed16

Sweden will be interesting to watch in the coming years... from a distance.

The level of denial will ultimately bring great pain to many innocent people.

The Local isn't journalism...it's essentially an overly-controlled message board system with some RSS feeds. If there was ANY real english alternative I would never visit this joke website.

Not only are the stories poorly researched and written, and the design is incredibly ugly, but now comments aren't allowed on any story involving the mention of a terrorist plot or bomb. Ridiculous.

@mojofat

I think the Local does an overall good job providing a very valuable service.

Granted, they censor comments in a very biased way occasionally, in favor of the "religion of peace", but I think overall they have excellent story selection and I couldn't imagine living here without it...

second that qed16. If you can do any better mojofat, go right ahead - a few others have tried, but none have come close to our beloved TL.

Big Broder is watching youuuuuuuuu all

How many terrorist attacks been carried out in the world SINCE 9/11 in the name of islam??!! If you make some simple search on google you will find that more than 15000 terrorist attacks been carried out by islamic extrimists and militants since then (and counting!!)

I am not an ethnic Swede. I migrated to sweden from an islamic country but I am not a christian. I know how muslims think and I know exactly what are their attitudes towards the western countries. I lived with them, learned with them and worked with them in my home country. I experienced also how much religious minorities such as christians are persecuted and margined, I have seen how many chruches been burnt and how many christians been killed by islamic terrorists. So as far as I experienced and read, I can admit that the integration of muslims in the western socities is just IMPOSSIBLE for the following reasons:

Theologically - Impossible, Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon God of Arabia.

Religiously - Impossible, Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam.

Scripturally - Impossible, Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.

Geographically - Impossible, Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially - Impossible, Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews .

Politically - Impossible, Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel, destruction of the western countries and U.S.A

(the great Satan)

Domestically - Impossible, Because he is instructed to marry four Women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him.

Intellectually - Impossible, Because he cannot accept the western Constitutions since they are based on biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically - Impossible, Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does not allow freedom of expression. (the crises of mohamed's drawings in Danmark is a strong evedince on that). Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Muslim believes also that any human law is devilish and the only law that the whole world should be submitted to is the islamic law "sharia law" practiced in Saudia Arabia and previously by Taliban in Afghanistan. Sharia law entails cutting off killer's head, cutting off theif's hand, stonning the adulterer and hanging homosexuals!

Therefore, after much study and deliberation.... Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. - - -They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and fully integrated cetizens. Call it whatever you wish but it's still the truth.. You had better believe it. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.

Great! Defend a open society and freedom of expression. Even expression of that which might be offensive to non-Nordic cultures. Although I doubt it will be permitted to succeed. Sweden is already too infested with certain elements who are insisting on their own set of laws and behavioral norms - taqiyya - at the expense of ethnic Swedes. It's a slow motion social evisceration of of Swedish society and allah's avengers are solidly ensconced. The trojan horse for muslim triumphalism is working hard to alter Swedish society to their liking. And the pathetic liberals are bending over and fail to see whatr's going on. But we might see to it that the social democrats, these masters of deceipt, who are responsible for the civilizational decline and decay are put on trial for treason, and sentenced to indeterminate prison terms. There may still be time brother!

@ Georgius

Very deep post.

And the best summary of the logistics of the problem I've seen yet.

You should consider writing an editorial on this.

Though it would be nearly impossible to get published in Sweden without being branded a racist. And it would have to be anonymous or you would be taking your life in your hands as you well know.

In terms of an open society...I would argue that the Swedish Press is not free enough. My understanding is that they receive subsidies from the state...doesn't that lead to some biases?

My feeling about the cartoons...they remind me of pre-teen drawings - what is the big deal - who hasn't put a d&ck on a major political or religous figure while drawing and bored in class? (which isn't what the cartoonist did) In a free society critical essays and drawings must be allowed to be submitted. If the west can't live in such a world then maybe its immigration standards should change.

Open immigration, generous welfare laws equal satellite dishes pointed to the middle east equal support to a minority extremist group which puts pressure on the rest to live a little bit more conservatively. Most probably won't mind it, in fact who is complaining that the dress in Sweden is more conservative...it's hard to notice since no one lives in the world of what could have been.

as usual these post is crawling with Islamophobes,Racists galore who are blinded by ignorance and keep spreading ignorance.....Opression,Racism,Impunity thrives in these so called 'civilised society'...Open society when it favours them....can't say the truth when it's against them...Double standards galore!

@Sheba: You just may be right. Ever wonder why?? And how do we cure it?

Or, just in case, convert over to their side, so We don't lose our heads and blend in.

Anyone here ever see the film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"?

Then, not too far in the distant future, We can say "We're one of You now" : )

12:24 December 30, 2010 by jackx123

"How many "true" swedes have committed act of terrorism? None to my knowledge...."

You are funny Jack. Is your memory that short? How about the Nazi who casually shot a few people of immigrant backgrounds? The Swedish man who killed his asian wife for the insurance payout?

What is "Mumbai-style"? I didn't find in any dictionary.

@Georguis,

Fantastically written and summerized!It should not be lost in the comments,so I am reposting it below.

How many terrorist attacks been carried out in the world SINCE 9/11 in the name of islam?! If you make some simple search on google you will find that more than 15000 terrorist attacks been carried out by islamic extrimists and militants since then (and counting!!)

I am not an ethnic Swede.I migrated to sweden from an islamic country but I am not a christian. I know how muslims think and I know exactly what are their attitudes towards the western countries. I lived with them, learned with them and worked with them in my home country.I experienced also how much religious minorities such as christians are persecuted and margined,I have seen how many chruches been burnt and how many christians been killed by islamic terrorists. So as far as I experienced and read, I can admit that the integration of muslims in the western socities is just IMPOSSIBLE for the following reasons:

Theologically- Impossible, Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon God of Arabia.

Religiously- Impossible, Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam.

Scripturally - Impossible, Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.

Geographically - Impossible, Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially - Impossible, Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews .

Politically - Impossible, Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel, destruction of the western countries and U.S.A

(the great Satan)

Domestically - Impossible, Because he is instructed to marry four Women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him.

Intellectually - Impossible, Because he cannot accept the western Constitutions since they are based on biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically - Impossible, Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does not allow freedom of expression. (the crises of mohamed's drawings in Danmark is a strong evedince on that). Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Muslim believes also that any human law is devilish and the only law that the whole world should be submitted to is the islamic law "sharia law" practiced in Saudia Arabia and previously by Taliban in Afghanistan. Sharia law entails cutting off killer's head, cutting off theif's hand, stonning the adulterer and hanging homosexuals!

Therefore, after much study and deliberation... Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. - - -They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and fully integrated cetizens. Call it whatever you wish but it's still the truth.. You had better believe it. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.

Judging by your comment P Rick, you already are suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in Sweden... and you'll justify it by exaggeration stereotypes and such. It's always the way.

Of course they will defend this society to the bitter end. It's the lovechild of the "68-left". They are like religious fanatics. They aren't interested in pragmatism, stability and safety. They don't care what it is that multiculturalism and tolerance are meant to acheive. They don't care if this multiculturalism or at least the way they go about it leads to suffering or instability. They only care that something IS multicultural.

Until a more sensible generations starts taking seats of power these people will protect their dream with an iron fist. Sadly for them, iron is strong but when enough force is applied it does not bend. It can only break.

"What is "Mumbai-style"? I didn't find in any dictionary. "

This refers to those crazies/muslims who crossed over from Pakistan and gunned down 166 people in Mumbai.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=mumbai+attack+2010&aq=8&oq=mumbai+attack

Sydsvenskan writes "When the open society closes then the terrorists have already won"

This is an alarmist falsehood always put forward by liberals. Rather, a society that protects itself from an internal threat achieves the opposite of what terrorists want, by creating an environment in which they can't operate. The only 'restrictions' that are brought in are targeted at specific anti-social activities. Ordinary people are then able to go about life just as they always have, but with a reduced level of anxiety because of the higher level of safeguards.

The more that a society is 'open' and 'free' without those safeguards in place, the more exposed it becomes to subversion. Just compare Sweden's quality of life today, in regards to crime and terrorist threat, to what it was twenty years ago, and ask yourself whether the situation is better.

Let them win, KICK theie ASS out, screw the open fence policy.

"one theme to the articles is that the threat to the open society can not be met with restrictions to the rights and freedoms associated with a democratic society."

I hate to tell The Local, but that ship has already sailed. People can be prosecuted for saying the wrong thing in Sweden. Remember when "Lagen om hets mot folkgrupp" was used to prosecute (persecute) Rev. Åke Green for condemning homosexuality? That viewpoint that was universally accepted throughout the Western World, including Sweden less than a half century ago. Was the social consensus in Tage Erlander's day so awful that the same ideas cannot be expressed today. Now it's official heresy in Sweden.

Racist sentiments may be ugly, but Sweden's "zero tolerance" is not a tolerant policy either. Furthermore, it is hard to believe that many groups are not using such laws to silence their opponents -- like on the immigration debate.

Even if such restrictions on free expression are just and justifiable, that does not mean they are not restrictions on free and democratic debate. It just explains why free and democratic debate is being restricted.

As Tom Lehrer famously said: "There are some people who don't love their fellow man and I JUST HATE PEOPLE LIKE THAT." He said it as a joke, but from everything that I read - it's Sweden's official policy.

So Sweden's papers shouldn't worry about "restrictions to the rights and freedoms associated with a democratic society." Sweden has already lost that battle. The only question is "Whose views will be suppressed."

So far the western world has been very lucky, but its just a matter of time before one of these Islamist extremists nutballs is finally successful in a terror act that will killl and maim many innocent people. It could happen in Denmark, Sweden, U.K. or even Canada, but I'm sure its coming somewhere and sometime. It will be interesting to see if liberal leaning journalists or public tolerence will still support a wide open society with the same unlimited restrictions once it does happen.

Swedish papers leap to defence of 'open society'

- this is the end result of mass imigration from 3rd world muslim countries. Does anyone remember a time when muslims weren't able to do this towards the Swedish people? It was before such policies of open immigration existed. The small group of politicians who did this to The Swedes (tho' the tale is the same all over the West), are the only ones who wanted this to happen.

When is it a good idea to have large amounts of foreign peoples, who have very little in common with their host countries and whose approach to life is diametrically opposed to that of the people who have been living there for millenia, amongst you?

A halt to ALL immigration from muslim counries, and a moratorium on the building of mosques within the West, with forced repatriation for all immigrant criminals up to and including the first 25 years in their new home if a crime is committed. If bombings continue, legislation must be passed banning the practice of Islam in the West, with active closing of existing mosques.

Well said and I must admit that " all the comments posted by " Georgius " are

nothing but the the absolute truth and I hope that all native Swedish as well as the Swedish Government and its' various departments which deals directly with all

those holier thou type of immigrants must and should read the postings of real

truth by " Georgius " Take the postings as guidelines and dont be taken by all

those actors and actresses or else Sweden as a country would suffer which is

happening now.Tq.Georgius for the truth the absolute truth.

Everyone talks about Lebanese, Iraqis … These only the hand of terrorist. Where is the brain behind it? Everyone knows that Iran has a lot of control on Hezbollah's activities. Even the presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, who suddenly became a overnight celebrity for his phony reformist clown custom, was one of the key players in empowering Hezbollah between 1980-1987. The new generation Iranians, the so called children of the revolution, are all fed and brain washed alongside with their Lebanese classmates in Iranian Universities such as University of Tehran. The new generation of Iranians who migrate to Sweden as students, employee or under arranged marriage are %100 Islamist anarchists. To clean up Sweden, cut the snake from its head.

I certainly don't see much defense of the open society in the Koran.

In fact, their "perfect" holy text overtly and adamantly instructs them to destroy and enslave infidels.

"Fight those who do not profess the true faith (Islam) till they pay the "jizya" (poll tax) with the hand of humility." (9:29)

"I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them." (8:12)

"And how many populations we destroyed, which exulted in their life (of ease and plenty)! Now those habitations of theirs, after them are deserted—all but a miserable few! And we are their heirs!" (28:58)

"When we decide to destroy a population, We send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: then we destroy them utterly." (17:16)

But don't take anyone's word for it. Pick one up and read for yourself and you can understand what we are dealing with.

Muslims will argue that these sorts of passages (of which there are many more) are taken out of context.

Read it for yourself and you can see that the Koran intends "peace" if you are Islamic and a whole other story for the rest of us "infidels". It's all there in black and white.

STOCKHOLM (AFP) - One of five men held over a foiled plot to massacre staff at a Danish newspaper had twice been arrested abroad suspected of terror links, the foreign ministry and media said Friday.

Munir Awad, a 29-year-old Swede born in Lebanon, had publicly thanked the Swedish secret service, Saepo, for obtaining his release from Somalia where he was detained three years ago.

"We know Saepo brought us home and we are very grateful," he told a newspaper at the time.

Swedish foreign ministry spokesman Anders Joerle confirmed the previous arrests and that Sweden had intervened on Awad's behalf.

"Awad was arrested in Somalia by Ethiopian troops. That was in 2007. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2009," foreign ministry spokesman Anders Joerle told AFP.

"The Swedish foreign ministry helped them. I wouldn't say to free him, but what we did was insist that he either should be tried or set free," he added.

Awad was one of five men arrested in Denmark and Sweden on Wednesday for hatching what Danish officials called a plan to "kill as many people as possible" in an assault on the Jyllands-Posten daily.

The Swedish government must change the way that they deal with immigration and asylum seekers or suffer more and more serious consequences.

The end result will be a resurgence of the far right that will forever change who can come into Sweden.

At this point, the far right does not seem as a bad option.

This is what happens when you get the wrong people in the wrong job making the wrong decisions. You have to distinguish between having an "open society" and opening up your society. Between immigrants and influx. Between ideology and religion. I don't even think we have barely scratched the surface.

Securing the release of a "Swede", who is in need of help, from Somalia is the Swedish government's job. None of you who are complaining about Sapo would argue that point if you were in need of the same help.

It would also seem that someone was watching the gentleman after his return, since he and his fellow conspirators were aprehended BEFORE their attack.

Georgius is correct in very many ways. Those of you who complain of "stereotypes" should remember that stereotypes often arise for a reason. Also bear in mind that the Koran finds no fault in a Muslim lying to an infidel to to achieve the Muslim's purpose.

So many who complain of stereotyping would not think of warning the Swedish government about either known recruiters of potential terrorists or the return of those who have been recruited from Middle Eastern training camps. Until you help to clean your own house, don't complain about stereotyping.

I see a lot of comments and suggestions on what Swedish government should do but i hardly see anyone pointing out about what society can do to eliminate this evil.

Can we eliminate this evil by hatred?

Can we eliminate this evil by love and acceptance?

Can we eliminate this evil by being insensitive to other culture and community?

Can we eliminate this evil by our ignorance?

I am sure each one us know the answer.

@ babs123

"Can we eliminate this evil by hatred?"

No, only by an impartial understanding of the goals, inflexibility and mountains of evidence of Islam's philosophical incompatibility with Western culture.

"Can we eliminate this evil by love and acceptance?"

No. Passivity in the face of aggression is suicide.

"Can we eliminate this evil by being insensitive to other culture and community?"

Telling the ugly truth and not accepting propaganda is not "insensitivity". It's simply telling the truth.

"Can we eliminate this evil by our ignorance?"

Most of the people on here criticizing Islam are happy to give you countless clearcut real world examples of why they feel the way they do. That's not ignorance, that's logical decision making.

Blind tolerance extremism with no standards or boundaries is true ignorance.

@qed16

"No, only by an impartial understanding of the goals, inflexibility and mountains of evidence of Islam's philosophical incompatibility with Western culture."

I am not a follower of Islam but i know the fact that no religion in the world teaches extremism.The mountains of evidence you are talking about seems to based on watching TV News channels in your living room and concieving a notion.It would be great if you would have read ISLAM and then commented that its the person and his act that needs to be condemned or religion as a whole.

When do you think the extremism started ? Is it when Islam came into existence?Or are there no examples of extremism in other parts of the world?

"No. Passivity in the face of aggression is suicide."

You are right but what represents agression?Is it some extremist or a religion?

Do you think its logical to brand a religion with aggression?

"Telling the ugly truth and not accepting propaganda is not "insensitivity". It's simply telling the truth."

TRUTH always has a context to it. Do you think that the extremist don't believe that they also know one form of the TRUTH.

"Most of the people on here criticizing Islam are happy to give you countless clearcut real world examples of why they feel the way they do. That's not ignorance, that's logical decision making."

Thats exactly what extremist do to propogate their ideas.But if we are not like them, our ideas and thoughts should be based on some rationale and knowledge.

"Blind tolerance extremism with no standards or boundaries is true ignorance."

Its not about "Blind tolerance to extremism" but its about branding a religion rather than the act and people behind it. These acts of extremism cannot be justified and should always be condemned.But at the same time, connecting extremism to religion is actually helping the bunch of extremist in thier motives.

@babs123

"..I know the fact that no religion in the world teaches extremism."

Babs, You don't know much! Have you ever heard of the Crusades? The 30 Years War? The Inquisition? And yes, Islam does teach that martyrs who die in "Holy Wars" go to paradise.

People who refuse to recognize that some religions (not all) share a common characteristic with religious zealots. They make up their own facts.

@ babs123

Haha, yeah no one is taught extremism. What world are you living in?

I think it's you that needs to give the Koran and the history of Islam a read my friend.

It was founded and spread by the sword and has been "extreme" from the beginning. As have other religions, but today they are the only ones still operating with the same aggressive dark ages mentality. Not all Muslims are violent but it is not and has never been just "isolated incidences" of as your beloved news channels would like to think.