For several years, Sami villages around Sápmi have been alerting about reindeer that have both been injured and killed by unknown people.

But it is rare for police reports to lead to convictions.

At Leipiöheden in Pajala municipality, a reindeer was found last week that the Sami village suspects that someone was driving on purpose.

It dragged itself forward in the forest and was forced to be killed.

The police closed the case immediately due to a lack of reconnaissance information.

"Complicated issues"

Görel Granström, associate professor of law at Umeå University, understands that these cases are difficult for the police to investigate.

But at the same time, she calls for them to be taken more seriously.

- Of course it is difficult when it happens in the mountains or in the forest.

These are complicated issues and I want people to discuss these issues more and to take it seriously when things like this happen, she says.

She continues:

- There are often certain investigative measures that can be taken.

To begin with, you hear the person who reported it and that you go out where it has happened and see if there is any evidence that can be secured - snowmobile tracks or whatever it may be.

Compare with clubhouse

It is obvious to her that this can often be a hate crime.

The reindeer is a strong symbol of the Sami.

And that people then go after reindeer can legally be compared with when other groups suffer damage on, for example, their association premises, she states.

- For example, if RFSL's association premises are exposed to damage by scrawling or even lighting a fire on it.

Then you can see that there is a hate crime motive there, says Görel Granström.

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Warning for strong images: Here the reindeer are found in the forest after it has been subjected to animal cruelty.

Photo: Private / SVT