After Rasmus Pauludan’s Koran burning near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) announced that “freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy – but that everything that is legal is not necessarily appropriate”.
Something that caused both the SD leader Jimmie Åkesson and the chairman of the justice committee Rickars Jomshof (SD) to react. Jomshof said in an interview with Today’s industry that he thought they should “fire a hundred more” to meet Turkey’s anger, which he considers to be “unreasonable”.
When Jomshof visited SVT Current he described the statement as a defense of Swedish freedom of expression.
– You can blaspheme and you can offend. It is part of freedom of opinion and expression, he says.
Jomshof: Freedom of expression more important than the NATO application
After the Koran burning, Kristersson highlighted that Sweden is in the most serious security situation since the Second World War and called for “calm and composure”.
Jomshof shares Kristersson’s view of the Swedish security situation and admits that his own statement about Koran burning may impair Sweden’s chances of joining NATO.
– It is unfortunate if that is the case, but the point is still to stand up for our freedom of expression, he says to Aktuellt’s presenter.
Jomshof: The flag should stand above everything else
At the same time, four members of parliament from SD have submitted a motion to “criminalize flag display” and want it to become a criminal offence. A motion supported by Jomshof.
– Sweden is a divided country, a segregated country, we need to agree on something. I mean that the flag is something we can agree on, he says.
Why shouldn’t freedom of speech apply here?
– It unites us all and should also stand above everything else.
Here, Jomshof makes a comparison with South Park – see the video above.