After the comments from both Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) about the Erdogan doll that was hung outside Stockholm City Hall, several top politicians have emphasized that the Turkey protest is covered by the freedom of expression law.
Among others, Johan Pehrson (L), who told Aftonbladet on Monday:
- I defend the right to protest against Erdogan in Sweden in the same way that I defend the right for Paludan to manifest his views.
Covered by freedom of expression
Jimmie Åkesson believes that the action, which the Erdogan-critical Rojava Committees are behind, is covered by freedom of expression.
At the same time, he believes that Turkey has probably already passed the limit of what they can demand from Sweden in exchange for NATO entry.
He is also of the opinion that Erdogan is referred to as the "people's elected president".
- Erdogan is an Islamist dictator, more or less, says Åkesson.
Hear more from the interview in the clip above.
SVT Nyheter has asked Foreign Minister Billström for comment, but he declines to comment.
The investigation closed
The investigation into the action was dropped by the Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday, which did not consider that it could be classified as defamation.
Billström then said that it is up to the authorities and courts to decide what is criminal and what is not, but that he still considers the action to be "sabotage against the Swedish NATO application".
- We are in the biggest security policy crisis since the Second World War and it is extremely important that Sweden is allowed to join NATO.
In that context, doing an action like this as pure sabotage against the NATO application is bad for Sweden, and I also want to be clear about that.
In addition, it is extremely distasteful with a mock execution like this in a country that had two leading politicians murdered, Billström said on Monday.
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"Disgusting" - hear Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson comment on the incident with the Erdogan doll that was hung outside Stockholm City Hall.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT