Ah, Diversity: Swedish Blogger Fired for Supporting Terrorism
... by which I mean, daring to support the evil Zionist State.
Remind me again—Wasn't the whole notion of having a "freedom of expression" born in the West?
(h/t Fredrik Larsson)
Update: Per Gudmundson, columnist for the Swedish daily SVD, informs me that this has been going on for a while. Here's an autotranslation of an article he wrote on this case back in February 2008:
Remind me again—Wasn't the whole notion of having a "freedom of expression" born in the West?
To my friends in Israel and to Israel, my friend.
As I understand it, an article on my case has been published in Maariv today.
I haved dared to blog about the right for Israel to exist and about the attempts by Hamas, a terror organisation, to try to destroy Israel by means of aggressive war - jihad. In doing this I have made use of my constitutional right of expression and opinion.
The Swedish Government hold that same positions: Israel have a right to exist. Hamas is a terror organisation.
My employer did not, however, find it appropriate for me to hold these opinions and to express them publicly. I have, because of my opinions, been forced to leave my employment.
(h/t Fredrik Larsson)
Update: Per Gudmundson, columnist for the Swedish daily SVD, informs me that this has been going on for a while. Here's an autotranslation of an article he wrote on this case back in February 2008:
Can you openly support democracy, condemn acts of violence while working as Head of Unit at the Migration Board? Apparently not if it means that while defending Israel, if we are to believe the Migration Board Operations for asylum:
- The views he disseminates case of a conflict that generate flows of refugees to Sweden. Persons in the Palestinian territories must have confidence that we handle their cases properly, "says Eugene Palmér to the newspaper The World Today.
The World Today, a sprightly magazine, albeit with very Christian nature and a little unusual nyhetsvärdering, now has two articles on the case of Lennart Eriksson, who petats from his head job at the Migration Board:
"Today begins negotiations in Mölndal district court where Lennart Eriksson requested redress. It is about opinions that he has spread via its website at leisure. It gives him a clear support for the democracy of Israel and stressed the U.S. operations for Europe in the war against Hitler Germany.
It was when he was in September 2007 returned to work after a freer as the newly appointed head confronted Eriksson.
- The first he said when we met was that I - because of my website - could not remain in the job as head of unit. Instead, I transferred to a lower position, "said Lennart Eriksson."
It sounds very strange. And in personnel matters, it can always be many dimensions which will never be known. But if it is as Eugene Palmér says that basic views as a defense of democracy and condemnation of acts of violence can not be made public by those who work at the Migration Board to become confused.
Readers may assess whether Eriksson committed any violations: his blog, Sapere Aude is open to all.
