Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM849
2008-12-19 13:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
VIOLENT UNREST OVER VACATED SWEDISH MOSQUE
how-toVZCZCXRO0855 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHGI RUEHIK RUEHJS RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSM #0849 3541324 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 191324Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3991 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000849
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV KISL SW
SUBJECT: VIOLENT UNREST OVER VACATED SWEDISH MOSQUE
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000849
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV KISL SW
SUBJECT: VIOLENT UNREST OVER VACATED SWEDISH MOSQUE
1. (U) Summary: In an immigrant neighborhood in Malmo, on December
15, police forcibly vacated three Muslim protesters for illegally
squatting in an office space formerly used as an Islamic cultural
center for 15 years. The youth were protesting the decision by city
officials not to renew the lease. In reaction to the removal, a
protest group converged on the site and, for the past four days,
violent disturbances have occurred. End summary.
Muslim Sit-In
--------------
2. (U) Last summer Malmo city officials in southern Sweden decided
not to renew the basement lease held for 15 years by various Muslim
groups, including the Islamic Cultural Association. The site, used
mainly as a cultural center and mosque, is in the immigrant-majority
neighborhood of Rosengard. The Association vacated the office
space, but on the lease's expiration date, November 24, a trio of
teenagers began a "sit-in," peacefully demanding that city officials
reinstate the lease. The Association claimed the end of the lease
was discriminatory, while city officials claimed the space was
needed for a center to educate immigrants about Swedish tenant laws
and norms.
3. (U) The sit-in was reported to the police the first week of
December, and on December 15 riot police used dogs to clear the
three protesters from the rental basement and took them into custody
for trespassing. On the same day a group of protestors gathered
outside the building to voice their objections to the police action.
Protests Turn Violent
--------------
4. (U) The disturbances took a violent turn on December 17 when
dozens of fires were set in neighborhood garbage bins and protestors
aimed stones, bottles and fireworks at the riot police. The police
stated the majority of the disruptive protesters are autonomous
groups, such as "Anti-Fascism Action", that came to Rosengard in
response to the police action. Seventeen people, mostly youth, have
been detained so far and tensions in the area remain high at the
time of this cable.
5. (U) Comment: Violent protests in Sweden are extremely rare. As
the protests are occurring in one the densest immigrant pockets in
Sweden, there is a chance they could grow in scale. We will
continue to monitor the situation.
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV KISL SW
SUBJECT: VIOLENT UNREST OVER VACATED SWEDISH MOSQUE
1. (U) Summary: In an immigrant neighborhood in Malmo, on December
15, police forcibly vacated three Muslim protesters for illegally
squatting in an office space formerly used as an Islamic cultural
center for 15 years. The youth were protesting the decision by city
officials not to renew the lease. In reaction to the removal, a
protest group converged on the site and, for the past four days,
violent disturbances have occurred. End summary.
Muslim Sit-In
--------------
2. (U) Last summer Malmo city officials in southern Sweden decided
not to renew the basement lease held for 15 years by various Muslim
groups, including the Islamic Cultural Association. The site, used
mainly as a cultural center and mosque, is in the immigrant-majority
neighborhood of Rosengard. The Association vacated the office
space, but on the lease's expiration date, November 24, a trio of
teenagers began a "sit-in," peacefully demanding that city officials
reinstate the lease. The Association claimed the end of the lease
was discriminatory, while city officials claimed the space was
needed for a center to educate immigrants about Swedish tenant laws
and norms.
3. (U) The sit-in was reported to the police the first week of
December, and on December 15 riot police used dogs to clear the
three protesters from the rental basement and took them into custody
for trespassing. On the same day a group of protestors gathered
outside the building to voice their objections to the police action.
Protests Turn Violent
--------------
4. (U) The disturbances took a violent turn on December 17 when
dozens of fires were set in neighborhood garbage bins and protestors
aimed stones, bottles and fireworks at the riot police. The police
stated the majority of the disruptive protesters are autonomous
groups, such as "Anti-Fascism Action", that came to Rosengard in
response to the police action. Seventeen people, mostly youth, have
been detained so far and tensions in the area remain high at the
time of this cable.
5. (U) Comment: Violent protests in Sweden are extremely rare. As
the protests are occurring in one the densest immigrant pockets in
Sweden, there is a chance they could grow in scale. We will
continue to monitor the situation.
SILVERMAN