The Swedish riots are not necessarily about religion, experts say. There is often a lot of repressed anger behind the acts, says Mustafa Dikeç Expressen, a professor of urban research at the University of Malmö.
In Sweden, the violence has subsided and the situation has calmed down after the riots experienced at Easter, according to various Swedish media, e.g. Swedish television SVT (switch to another service). Traces of unrest in several places have now begun to be cleaned up.
A Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludanin the unrest that began with the visit and the burning of the Qur’an escalated during Easter into violent riots in which specifically the police were attacked. Violence broke out at the site of the burning of the Koran in Malmö, among others, but also in Norrköping, Linköping, Örebro and Lanskorno.
About 30 police officers and fifteen others were injured in the violence. Numerous people have been arrested as a result of the unrest.
“Authorities did not expect a direct attack”
Chief of Police of Sweden Anders Thornberg described the riots as “serious crimes against society” at a news conference on Monday, and that they specifically sought to harm police and police equipment. Violence has been directed at lives and property.
Authorities clearly could not expect direct violence against the police, comments Sveriges Radio Finska, a journalist interviewed by on Tuesday morning. Christer Flythström.
– It is quite clear that as soon as the police arrived there, the crowds focused on attacking the police. There were also preparations: fireworks were ready, stones were removed, fuel bottles were made. Police cars and cops have been attacked immediately. It is a clear marking on behalf of the protesters that the police have been the target, Flythström says.
“Underlying Hostility”
Police hatred, feelings of alienation and crowds of young men gathered in Sweden as a result of violence in Sweden, experts comment Expressen magazine (go to another service) according to the story.
Professor of Urban Research at the University of Malmö Mustafa Dikeç has studied the background to the riots and believes that religion may not have a direct impact on the riots seen across Sweden.
“The riots are not so much about religion in general or the Koran in particular,” Dikeç told the Swedish news agency TT.
According to him, the background may be, among other things, a sense of alienation and a sense that the surrounding society is hostile to them and the things they represent.
“There is often a lot of accumulated, repressed anger in the background that easily comes to life through a provocation like the burning of the Qur’an,” Dikeç says.
“Typically young people with an immigrant background”
Dagens Nyheter magazine (go to another service) interviewed by a criminologist Manne Gerell The University of Malmö says that on the basis of previous similar riots, conclusions can be drawn about who is involved in the unrest and the psychology behind the participation.
“Typically, the rioters are young men and boys with an immigrant background living in poor neighborhoods, but of course they’re not the only ones,” Gerell told the newspaper.
According to Gerell, young people in the suburbs spend their evenings outdoors, and boys in particular can then commit violent behavior.
According to him, there may also be a certain amount of religious tension behind the unrest, including genuine outrage at Paludan’s burning of the Qur’an and a violation of the Islamic faith.
Still, Gerell would not underestimate the excitement of young people as a motive for unrest.
– For some, it is certainly important that Islam is violated, for others it is a completely different reason – and then there are probably a lot of people who just find the riot exciting, Gerell commented to the newspaper.