Murhaf, 12, sold may flowers for millions • Trial against 60-year-old woman ended
Eleven-year-old Murhaf broke records when he sold may flowers for several million.
His work was praised by many, but at the same time he was also met with hatred from some quarters.
A 60-year-old woman has now been charged with incitement against a ethnic group and gross defamation after a comment on X.
– It was a great achievement that he managed to achieve, but that achievement has been marred by this event which took a toll on him, says Murhaf’s plaintiff’s assistant Josef Ben Ali.
Murhaf Hamid’s sales finally landed at over five million kroner and he was praised by both Queen Silvia and the Prime Minister for his efforts.
– A heroic effort. Perhaps there is no better way to describe it, wrote Ulf Kristersson (M) on Instagram.
Initially, sales were slow for Murhaf when he started selling may flowers last spring. People were rude and not many people shopped. A family friend shared the story on social media, and Murhaf’s sales took off and hit a record high.
The post took a toll on Murhaf
The sale brought Murhaf a lot of attention, but also some hate. A 60-year-old woman has now been charged with incitement against a ethnic group and gross slander after a comment on X. The post uses grossly racist terms if Murhaf is hung out with her name and picture.
Murhaf saw what was written about him, became sad and allegedly did not want to go to school.
– One must not forget that he was twelve years old at the time of the incident. The fact that he was already visible everywhere because he managed to sell so much was stressful in itself regardless of the extensive positive response, says Murhaf’s plaintiff’s assistant Josef Ben Ali and adds:
– And then this thing comes as an addition to the whole thing.
The hearing in the district court ended on Monday and Josef Ben Ali expects a guilty verdict, while the woman denies any crime as she believes she has been hacked. When the police seized her phone, she was logged into 29 different accounts on X, including the account that published the post about Murhaf.
– It was a great achievement that he managed to achieve, but that achievement has been marred by this event which took a toll on him, says Murhaf’s plaintiff’s assistant Josef Ben Ali.
Hope the case can be instructive
Josfen Ben Ali says that Murhaf and his family are positive that the incident has been taken to court, even if it has been stressful for Murhaf, who did not want to participate in the hearing in the district court.
– It is very unusual for a prosecutor to pursue a defamation case like in this case.
It is required that it is called for from a public point of view for a prosecutor to pursue the case, says Josef Ben Ali.
Ben Ali hopes that the case is now brought up can be a guide for other similar cases in the future. He hopes that a conviction can provide some redress for the abuse Murhaf has been subjected to.
– But at the same time, it cannot be compared to what they have been through, says Josef Ben Ali.