Hej Wakenya in Stockholm, how is that place nowadays? I lived in Sverige 2000-2003 while working for Tetra Pak AB in the EU after expatriation from Tetra Pak Kenya. The work was great and most Swedes were really nice folks though some Swedish wajamaa could be challenging when it came to getting along in a civilized way. However, the place can be sweet, especially in the summer….wao!
My stay never ended well. I had to file a suit against Tetra Pak Kenya, Tetra Pak AB and Tetra Pak Intl. The Suit will be heard for the first time in August at the High Court in Nairobi. Imagine the time it takes – 9 years so far and not a word has been heard from the courts!
Sadly the Ombudsman for Ethnic Discrimination could not or chose not to take any action.
I read in the news the goings on there, especially in Malmo. How is the racism situation? Any better? Maintain your dignity at all times, never accept to play the stereotype script.
Tack
Charles in Kenya
About the Author
The new Swedish xenophobia
By Anders Roslund
Malmö’s racially motivated shootings remind me of an earlier wounding to Swedish society. But this time they’re no freak
So, it happens again. A town in flames. A nation changes complexion. A democracy looks for a new direction.
It started in 1991, August; a quiet Stockholm summer evening. The silence is shattered: a man is shot and wounded. For another six months the whole of Swedish society is wounded; fear becomes a part of all of us. One person dies, and others damaged for life. Slowly a pattern emerges: a Swedish citizen who shot with a rifle and laser sights at victims who all had something in common – darker skin, dark hair, or an immigrant background.
I was then the chief reporter for Swedish television on the story, which was the biggest police operation and trial that Sweden had seen since the 1986 assassination of the prime minister, Olof Palme. I reported from the first shots till the last day of the trial. I saw Sweden changed: Nazi flags were raised; there were riots between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators; young people found their way into extremist groups. And out of that time an anti-immigrant party emerged – called New Democracy – which a few months later gained a popular vote and entered Sweden’s parliament.
As a journalist I continued to cover the growth of rightwing extremism and xenophobia in Sweden. Just like my fellow journalist and author Stieg Larsson, death threats were made against me, and I lived in hiding with armed bodyguards.
Then everything changed again. A few years later, democracy and openness had pushed back the fear of foreignness. We could once more be proud of our Sweden. Until now. Until it happened again – but this time the other way round.
This time the anti-immigrant party, the Sweden Democrats, were formed first. During the autumn’s election campaign they ran on one issue only and in September were voted into the Swedish parliament. Xenophobia became established and – I am certain of this – legitimised what we see happening again, this time in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city, situated a long way south, close to the continent, and with a high proportion of immigrants, who, the police believe, are now being targeted by a racially motivated gunman. The latest attack was on an Iranian-born hairdresser on Saturday.
Nineteen years ago it was an isolated unhinged gunman who inspired and foreshadowed the political facts. Now it is a democratically elected parliamentary party that inspires the deluded.
Malmö had already had fifty shooting incidents this year before this happened. The city had already developed a gang culture – a large number of criminal groups and networks – which had for years brutally exposed its social divisions. Even before the attacks happened Malmö’s policies on integration had been a disaster.
So, I am quite certain that what is now happening is not the work of an isolated deranged shooter. There are many of them – copycats. And this time round, they will continue, and prove infectious. With a democratically elected xenophobic party in our parliament, the xenophobic currents in society that we have struggled against for so long will gain new strength, new strongholds, new legitimacy.
We managed to defeat the events of 1991 – the shootings, the death threats, and the riots. This time? We can only keep calm, and do some serious work on the integration policies that have led us here. The Sweden you know has now changed forever.
• This article has been translated from Swedish by Andrew Brown
The social mess in Malmö:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3fe_1236908843
What are none Swedish going to do Hence Racism is in Swedish peoples blood?
Keen Observer: Non-Swedes (without blue eyes and blonde hair) must continue exposing any form of racism if they want to be equal and to enjoy the freedom(s) assured by the Swedish Constitution. One should never be quiet or suggest that immigrants have no place in Sweden. They pay taxes too.
Also, there is no shortcut, just like many Whites enjoy various privileges in Africa yet don’t bother to speak national languages like Kiswahili. Fight for your rights!
Charles, thanks for sharing your own experience although we did not get further details.
Racism in Sweden is for example, explicit against the indigenous Saami people who reside in the northern parts of Sweden. They continue fighting for the right to retain their cultural pratices that are under constant threat from the main government in Stockholm. They have so far managed to create acceptable policies to help them overcome all manners of discrimination.
It’s a pity to read from some KSB commentators that there is no racism in Sweden. The Saami are historically regarded as the original Swedes.
Ombudsman against ethnic discrimination knocks Sweden’s treatment of Saami:
Saami culture and traditions are often used by local and county councils in their marketing and for tourism purposes, at the same time as Saami rights are routinely disregarded, says the new report.
Saami in northern Sweden are routinely subjected to discrimination and their rights disregarded, a new report from the Ombudsman against ethnic discrimination shows.
Ombudsman Katri Linna said the only way to counter the widespread discrimination towards Saami is to increase their participation in the national community and raise their influence, reports the Local.
Saami culture and traditions are often used by local and county councils in their marketing and for tourism purposes, at the same time as Saami rights are routinely disregarded, Linna argues.
Mother tongue classes in school corridors after school hours, bureaucratic procedures characterized by assimilation and negative prejudices are typical of the humiliations that many Saami have to deal with in their everyday lives, the report states.
“Saamis are not met as individuals, they are categorized according to prejudices and notions of them as a group,” said Linna.
The report shows, for example, that many university-educated Saami are urged to apply for jobs as tourist guides, purely because of their ethnicity.
The power and influence of the Sami must be improved, Linna says. The Saami have special rights in their position as an indigenous people and national minority, she adds. Authorities should consult with Saami groups to ensure their participation and influence in issues that affect them.
Linna hopes that more Saami will be encourage to report cases of discrimination against them and has urged the government to act to address the situation.
“At some point the government has to get a grip of the issue and come to the realization that it will actually require money to solve the question of the rights of the Saami.”
The ombudsman’s report recommends strong measures to raise the status of the Saami languages. The government is urged to take measures to encourage the training of Saami teachers and the development of teaching aids.
Furthermore it is argued that Saami rights need to be ensured by conducting a comprehensive consultation process between local municipalities and authorities with Saami groups.
The Ombudsman suggests finally that effective sanctions need to be developed to complement existing anti-discrimination legislation and an independent supervisory body should be set up to ensure that the Saami are actually given the rights that their status as an indigenous people and national minority deserves.
http://www.verddeviessu.org/engindex.html
Your Case has taken all that long Becouse Animals called (Kikuyus) controls all organs of Kenyas Primitive&Ethinicity Failed Govt>
IF you happened to be a Kikuyu (nyoomba) your case would have been solved long ago!The 41 oppressed & marginalized tribes of Kenya (MUST) stand up now (today) and stop this Kikuyu madness(Impunity)where Kikuyu Ruling-class believed Kenya is theirs! Other (tribes) are Refugees : And must be treated as such Read this Essay written by MigunaMiguna One of the Most Intellectual and a great thinker in Kenya>
Kenyans are at a similar juncture like the USA in 2008. There are two options: One option keeps us stuck where we are or takes us backwards. And the other promises to cross the River Jordan with everyone. Whereas the Merchants of Impunity are determined to turn the clock backwards, the reformers have smelt blood and are unwilling to let this opportunity slip.
The new appointments under the Constitution give us hope. To ensure equity, regional, gender and ethnic balance, section 29(2) of the Sixth Schedule requires all new appointments to be made by the President and the Prime Minister within the context of power-sharing as provided for by the National Accord. The appointments must be approved by the National Assembly. When making them, the two principals must address or correct past disparities, discrimination and disadvantages.
Nowhere are those disparities more pronounced than in the security and financial sectors of our public institutions. How can anyone justify or defend a situation where the Commander-In-Chief, the Deputy Chief of General Staff (Lt. Gen. Julius Karangi), the Army Commander (Lt. Gen. Mwaniki), the Navy Commander (Mag. General Mwathethe), the Deputy Air Force Commander (Mag. Gen. Waweru), the Minister for Internal Security (Prof. Saitoti), the PS Internal Security (Kimemia), the Director General of Intelligence (Gichangi), the Head of Police (Iteere), Administration Police Commandant (Kinuthia), GSU Commandant (Saiya), CID Director (Muhoro), two PCs, six Regional Commissioners, thirty-two District Commissioners and 20 out of 40 Permanent Secretaries – all hailing from one community?
In a country of more than 42 ethnic groups, how can we continue to have the Minister of Finance (Uhuru), PS Finance (Kinyua), Central Bank Governor (Ndung’u), Economic Secretary (Thuge), Pension Secretary (Mugo), Director of Budget (Ngugi), Deputy Finance Secretary (Mwirichia), ERD Director (Ngugi), Senior Principal Accountant (Kingathia), 5 out of 6 Members of the Central Bank Board (who are clinging on despite their terms having expired), and the entire Kenya National Audit Office completely dominated by one ethnic group?
How do we justify having, at the Kenya Revenue Commission, Michael Waweru as Commissioner General, Mrs. Ng’ang’a (Secretary), Nduati (Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigations & Enforcement), Nguru ( Deputy Commissioner, Investigations & Enforcement), Karimi (Deputy Commissioner, Procurement), Wanui Namu (Commissioner, Customs), Ms. Githinji (Senior Deputy Commissioner), Maina (Deputy Commissioner, Enforcement), Wachira (Deputy Commissioner, Finance), Njiraini (Commissioner, Domestic Taxes), Mrs. Mwangi (Deputy Commissioner), Mrs. King’ori (Senior Deputy Commissioner, Finance), Kariuki (Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security), and Wagachira (Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region) – again, all from one community?
The same situation prevails in the energy, communications, education, infrastructure, justice/judiciary and productive sectors. Mzalendo Kibunja’s report only scratched the surface! This isn’t acceptable. Both Principals must, when making the new appointments, comply strictly with the Constitutional requirements – not just of integrity, competence and reform-mindedness – but also ensure that all past wrongs and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, race, region and disability are addressed fully.
Mr. Miguna is the PM’s adviser on coalition affairs. The views expressed here are his own.
Racism of various forms is found in every country on Earth.Racism is widely condemned throughout the world, with 170 states signatories of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by August 8, 2006.
In different countries, the forms that racism takes may be different for historic, cultural, religious, economic or demographic reasons.
According to the report Racism and Xenophobia in Sweden by the Board of Integration, Muslims are exposed to the most religious harassment in Sweden. Almost 40% of the interviewed said they had witnessed verbal abuse directed at Muslims.
Sweden was also the first country in the world to open an institute for race-biology research in the Swedish town of Uppsala. The institute recommended the sterilization by force of the mentally ill, physically disabled, homosexuals and ethnic minorities, which was allowed by Swedish law until 1975.
Although Sweden is often referred as having been passive regarding WW2, 100 Swedes voluntarily joined the Nazis and participated in Waffen-SS. There were divisions of Swedish volunteers such as the SS Panzer division Wiking and The SS panzergrenadier-friewilligen division Nordland.
The European Network Against Racism in Sweden claims that in today’s Sweden there exists a clear ethnic hierarchy when ethnic Swedes are at the top and non-European immigrants are at the bottom.
Sveriges Radio reported that the punishments for driving under the influence of alcohol tended to be harsher for immigrants than for Swedes; while over 50% of immigrants were sent to jail for driving under the effect of alcohol, only less than 30% of ethnic Swedes were sent to jail with the same level of alcohol found in blood.
There has been evidence that the Swedish police used “Neger Niggerson” as a nickname for a criminal in a police training; this was published in Swedish media. Lately however, many incidents of racial attitudes and discrimination of the Swedish police have led for the first time to the control of racial attitudes of police students under police education.
A recent research done by the Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees (TCO) found that people with foreign background have much lower chances of finding a job that is appropriate for their education, even when they have grown up in Sweden and got their education in Swedish institutes.
In 2007, there were a total of 3,536 hate crimes (defined as crimes with an ethnic or religious motive) reported to the police, including 118 cases of anti-Semitic agitation.
Racism in Sweden is reported to appear within Swedish health-care services as well. A nurse at a Stockholm suburb hospital lost his job after complaining on racial attitudes of the hospital staff to patients with immigrant background. Staff was cited saying “go back to Arabia”, “the patient is screaming because it’s in his culture”, “send him to Auschwitz” and more.
Swedish social services have reported on racism in Swedish hospitals as well. A study of statistics Sweden (SCB) reveals that segregation is widespread for Swedish immigrants when there are large differences in the fields of education, housing, employment and politics between immigrants and ethnic Swedes.
Sweden has been criticized by the UN human rights council for an increasing number of hate crimes which seldom resulted in criminal charges, when more hate crimes are Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, and homophobic, with an increasing amount of racist propaganda appearing on the internet and in Sweden’s schools, for failing to provide adequate health care and education to immigrants, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants and the ongoing discrimination of the Roma and Sami minorities in Sweden.
Sweden has recently handed over 22 skulls of Hawaiians from the late 19th century in an official ceremony in Hawaii. Those skulls are only the top of an iceberg of thousands of remains from humans from different parts of the world that were found in Swedish museums and institutes. The remains are defined as a “racial inheritance”, however Sweden did not publish how they got into Sweden.
Swedish national television (SVT) has reported on a new research done in Sweden which identifies that job seekers with a Swedish name have 50% higher chances to be called for an interview than job seekers with middle-eastern names. The research enlightens that there is not much difference between foreign-born job seekers and job seekers born in Sweden if both don’t have a Swedish name; this indicates that ethnic discrimination is the main cause of the variations.
TO commen no 6. Stop tribalism in Jesus name. Somethings has got nothing to do with your tribe. Give the kiukuyus a break or learn kikuyu and be one of them so that your thing can be moving. You sound like this story i was told about kalenjin b4 2007 chaos who used to tell kikuyus soon they will be given money just like the way kikuyus are being given by kibaki while the kikuyus are doing a hard work to make both end meet. Go the city life n mix yourself with all kind of ppl then you ill never talk or think like that.
First of all…we shoul stop using ras as an excuse of not having jobs in Sweden..there is rasism everywhere and in every community including your ownKenya against Somalis,Sudanis and other refugees in kenya and if those refugee are not being ttaken care of by the UN…the would have been dead long time ago,because our own hatred against the is worse the the Swedish one,obviously because Sweden/Swedish is feeding almost every jobless person in this country.
Why is that people are never thankfull?? now as we are talking there are families even from Kenya who cant put mkate or even noddles on the table if it was not for socialbidrag??
Does anyone know how Kenyan harass other nationalities in Kenyan soil??
Lazy people blame others..some people blame their mother,father,swedish comunity as an excuss för not doing anything with their lives..there are so many blacks,and other foreighners who have topjobs simply because they know why they came to Sweden!!
How come? Obama is not even an American and yet he is the president of USA?if he had the same mentality like some of us here in Sweden,he would have been a big looser,blaming his father for abadoning him and even being dead!!!
So girlfriends/boyfriends dont sitt there doing nothing,blaming Sweden for rasism,..do something yourself and stop blaming others. The best thing with Sweden is that when people nagg too much,they get a tablet to make then shut upp and even worse,some end upp becoming “vegetables” and naggingless.
Goodluck
Karro #9, the debate on racism is not as petty as you have put it. And by the way President Obama is an American. A non-American can never be a president there as per their Constitution. You need to do your homework properly. What mentality do you mean? If you are below debating things beyond your basic understanding then don’t indulge.
Thankfull for what? Whoever pays taxes and lives in Sweden as a resident/citizen has a right to discuss racism. And yes, comment #7 already states that racism is global, so what are you telling readers that is new?
The Swedes themselves discuss racism and if you do not listen to radio and watch TV on such, then you blame yourself. Yes, to you there is no racism in Sweden, so keep off and let those who know it discuss.
Karro, let those who understand racism discuss it, while keep living in denial. Some well documented racial happenings among Kenya-Stockholmers are in KSB archives. Osewe has a personal experience, talk to him or read his account. Too bad u seem to live under the shadow of “whites”, thinking they don’t “sin”.
Brutality Against Immigrants By Swedish Guards Is “An Everyday Recipe”
Less than 48 hours after I was brutalized by Security guards at Slussen tube station, Aftonbladet, a leading evening Newspaper in Sweden, carried a headline story titled “Guards Film When They Humiliate And Pin Down Their Victims” (Monday 19/0372007). The thrust of the story was that the degrading films (shot with mobile phones) are normally circulated among the guards as “trophies”.
http://kenyastockholm.com/2007/03/21/brutality-against-immigrants-by-swedish-guards-is-%e2%80%9can-everyday-recipe%e2%80%9d/#comments
A new law that is soon to come into effect in Sweden should make a big difference in addressing rampant racism and discrimination of immigrants especially Africans in Sweden. According to the law, two civilian police offices will now be stationed outside major restaurants to monitor whether guests with dark skin color are being discriminated against when it comes to admission in restaurants.
http://kenyastockholm.com/2007/09/05/racism-new-law-on-discrimination-should-be-welcome-news/#respond
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT EAST BAR, Stureplan, Sweden
On the 19th of September 2008, 3 guys with African background went to EAST BAR to have a nice night out. The 3 guys didn’t go out with their Swedish girlfriends. They just wanted to hang out, talk and have a drink. Two of these guys will drive home so possibly only one can have strong alcoholic drinks.
The security men did not allow them to go into the bar. At the time they arrived, one guy also waiting at the entrance told them that they will not be allowed to go in. He told them that he overheard one of the security guards swearing that no “BLACK” man would be allowed in.
They thought this guy was drunk or probably joking and they stayed on the queue (of just about 10 people). But to their dismay and uttermost surprise and shock, they were not allowed to enter the BAR.
The security man told them that they have REGULARS who are allowed into the bar and that that they (the black guys) have to come back after 1am before they would be allowed into the BAR. He told them and boasted that he has been working is EAST BAR for 6 years and 4 times a week and that he would not allow them to go in because they are not regulars.
They tried to argue with the security men that this is unusual as they should have the possibility to go to the bar and buy drinks but their arguments were turned down. Then they remembered what they heard previously that no black man would be allowed in that day (19th September).
This is a serious problem really because at least one of these 3 guys is Swedish and the other two will become Swedish citizens someday soon.
They are being discriminated in a country that they thought is theirs. They are blacks and they suddenly realised that they are not actually welcome in Sweden. This is happening in 2008 and it is almost unbelievable. They felt really embarrassed and humiliated by this security man.
At they head off back to the car, they started talking about their future and what they thought would happen to their children who are half-african and half-swedish. They thought about their prestige and their home country. They knew that they have a choice and they could actually go back to Africa.
But how does one brace up to the threat of racism and the influence on the family where a child is born mixed? One of these guys has pressed charges to the Swedish Discrimination
Board at http://www.do.se (The Ombudsman against ethnic discrimination (the DO).
He has lived in sweden for a long time and he is in fact a swedish citizen. He told me that he is looking forward to the outcome of the complaint that he sent by e-post. For him, Sweden is on trial. This is the first time he would be making an official complain about discrimination but it is something he has lived with for several years now. He thought it is time to act. He has also told me that he would spread this RACISM ATTITUDE AT EAST BAR as much as possible on the internet.
(End of story)
If I may add, my observation is that racism is quite common in Sweden but the people pretend as if they are not racists. For the past 6 years I have seen and being through situations when African guys or people of foreign backgrounds have been prevented from doing certain things. Going into clubs, restaurants and bars are the commonest problems of these situations.
I know EAST BAR and the problem is actually with the guards and the part of town. The guards who are suppose to maintain order and security are busy looking at your skin colour and the type of dress you are putting on. They need to be educated on what their responsibilities are.
It used to be ALADIN in the centre of town that had this problem. The guards look at you and turn you back on flimpsy excuses. Excused like your shoes, colour of dress, type of trousers and so on. They are just short of saying: we don’t like blacks. In real sense they would prefer not to see black people inside the clubs. Right in your presence you could see Swedish people in trainers, sneakers and all kinds of dresses going in as you stand by and watch.
But Aladin is a little bit better now…the problems are still there in a way.
I am going to be particularly interested in this case because it would be nice to know what the Ombudsman against ethnic discrimination (DO) will do about it. It would also be wonderful to know how the management of EAST BAR would come of out this useless attitude potrayed by their racist guards.
It is a wake-up call also for the government of Sweden. The government of Sweden must know that EAST BAR and other places in Sweden are showing racism to Black Swedes and other foreigners.
Many of the cases are unreported or undocumented because those who suffer it most have no legitimate residency in Sweden. But the case of these 3 guys should receive National Attention.
Blacks in sweden will like to know:
-why the guards at EAST BAR in Stureplan continue to show racism? I know about that of EAST BAR since 2002. So it didn’t start today
-what will happen to the guards-will they be fired or prosecuted?
-the counselling that will be given to these 3 black guys because it seemed that suffered emotionally. It was a very humiliating experience..
http://prince0772.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/racism-is-growing-in-sweden/
Karro, so many Africans were out in Stockholm recently protesting against the imitation by whites at Lund University of a slave market scenario which was seen as a “racial slur” by many people. Were you there to protest? I bet no(t)!
I dislike the simplicity with which you have approached this topic by suggesting (my interpretation) that people should be thankful. I feel that you meant “just shut up and enjoy being in Sweden, whatever it is”. Sweden has racial discrimination, just like many other countries.
The topic is specific about Sweden so we should not deviate by discussing Somalis in Kenya, unless there are good examples. What for example, are you doing about the Somalis? Write at KSB about their plight and create a new topic.
I find it absurd that you are trying in a subtle manner, to let us feel like we should be second class citizens just because Sweden is “paradise”. As commented by one above, keep off the discussion if you don’t understand its meaning.
By the way, OBAMA is an AMERICAN otherwise he would never be President. You must be an American by birth to be president. Ask Obama if you want to know the truth. Don’t peddle lies or discuss things that you don’t know.
Karro, below are some conditions for being an American President. If Obama is not an American, where does he come from? Do your investigations before exposing your ignorance on Obama’s citizenry.
• Only native-born U.S. citizens (or those born abroad, but only to parents who were both citizens of the U.S.) may be president of the United States, though from time to time that requirement is called into question, most recently after Arnold Schwarzenegger, born in Austria, was elected governor of California, in 2003. The Constitution originally provided a small loophole to this provision: One needn’t have been born in the United States but had to be a citizen at the time the Constitution was adopted. But, since that occurred in 1789, that ship has sailed.
• One must live in the United States for at least 14 years to be president, in addition to being a natural-born citizen. The Constitution is vague on this point. For example, it does not make clear whether those 14 years need to be consecutive or what the precise definition of residency is. So far, however, this requirement has not been challenged.
These are the only explicit criteria in the Constitution.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/presrequire.htm