Statement
Ministry for Foreign Affairs 30 January 2006
Laila Freivalds, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Statement by Laila Freivalds with regard to the threat against Sweden expressed in Palestine
"The Swedish Government takes the threat against Swedes in the Palestinian areas extremely seriously. We are now taking various measures to avert this threat," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Laila Freivalds.
"The Consulate-General in Jerusalem is contacting Swedes and Swedish Palestinians in the Palestinian areas with information advising them to exercise caution until further notice. Sweden's Consul-General in Jerusalem is in continuous contact with the Palestinian National Authority. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has tightened the travel recommendations and advises against all travel to Gaza and the West Bank until further notice."
"The threat directed at Swedes in the Palestinian areas is incomprehensible and appears to be based on a misunderstanding", continues Ms Freivalds.
"The claims made in the leaflet in Gaza – that posters have been set up in Sweden insulting the Prophet Mohammed, and that this has been supported by the Swedish Government, are naturally untrue."
"I can understand that the pictures in the Danish newspaper are felt to be offensive. Statements and pictures that are interpreted as lacking respect for a religion stir up feelings in all societies, both Christian and Muslim. This is why we must continue to increase understanding between the Muslim and Christian world, an issue that Sweden has been working intensively on for several years, within the EU and through other channels. However, that the pictures in a Danish newspaper are felt to be offensive by no means excuses the expression of threats of this kind. Sweden has freedom of religion and full freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Sweden has long been involved in the peace process and supports the Palestinian people's right to a state of their own, side by side with Israel. Moreover, Sweden is one of the largest development assistance donors to the Palestinians."