"No one is punished for human rights violations in Iran"

Maja Åberg, policy advisor at Amnesty International Sweden, believes that the culture of impunity in Iran means that human rights violations, such as those seen by the regime during the current protests, continue. Photo: Artin Bakhan. Unsplash/Amnesty International Sweden.

Of: Liljan Daoud

The protests in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Jhinas Amini in police custody, have spread across the country. By the end of October, 234 people had died in connection with the protests in Iran, according to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). The human rights organization Amnesty describes a culture of impunity in the country, where the security forces can kill, torture and abuse - without being punished for it. - The situation in Iran is extremely serious, says Maja Åberg, policy advisor at Amnesty International Sweden.

November 8, 2022, Interview

Week 44: Debaters criticize the government on several points

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) received sharp criticism during last week's debate - among other things for having called Turkey a democracy. Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima's Administration. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström's (M) statements about Turkey have stirred emotions during the past week's debate. The new government's aid and climate policy has also been debated. 

November 7, 2022, Current debate

This is how the Iranian population circumvents the regime's internet blockades

"Woman, life, freedom" have been some of the slogans in the protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran. Now the Iranian population is forced to find creative solutions to circumvent the regime's internet blockades. Photo credit: Stacey MacNaught. Flickr. Photo th: Artin Bakhan. Unsplash.

Of: Jonathan Lamy

To quell the protests after mahsa Aminis death, the Iranian regime restricts the local population's access to the Internet. Several social media platforms are now completely blocked and vthe owners around the blockades are few, but tech company and non-profit organizations work to maintain communication with the outside world. 

November 3, 2022, Development magazine explains

Week 42: Strong reactions after the decision to close the Ministry of the Environment

The fact that the Ministry of the Environment will be closed has been debated during the week. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Amanda Rossling and Karin Sjöstrand

Last week, Sweden's new ministers were appointed and with this the closure of the Ministry of the Environment was also presented, something that created strong reactions around the country. The decision is criticized by Sweden's former climate and environment minister, who believes that the consequences could be catastrophic for environmental work. 

October 24, 2022, Current debate

Week 41: New government proposal agreed to reduce aid and five years since the start of #metoo

"Without yes it's no" - a placard from a demonstration in Montréal, Canada on June 19, 2020. Photo: Mélodie Descoubes. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Fredrik Govenius and Jonathan Lamy

The new government with Ulf Kristersson as prime minister will drop the one percent target and work to reduce Sweden's aid. The proposal arouses criticism from humanitarian organizations but is encouraged by some bourgeois leaders. Meanwhile, it's been five years since #metoo took the world by storm. 

October 17, 2022, Current debate

Week 40: "Support for women in Iran must not stop at murmurs"

Debaters demand that the EU and the rest of the world act more unitedly and forcefully in support of the protests in Iran. Pictured: Demonstrations in Stockholm in solidarity with Iranian women's freedom struggle. Photo: Artin Bakhan. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Sandra Duru and Vilma Ellemark

The discussion around the outside world's support for the protests in Iran continues. Several debaters believe that Sweden, the EU and the free world must now move from words to action. Also Erdogan outcome of a Swedish satirical program has been discussed during the past week.  

October 11, 2022, Current debate

Week 39: Debaters disagree on why the protests in Iran have become so powerful

Violent protests are ongoing in Tehran. Photo: Lingbeek, Getty Image Signature. Source: Canva.

Of: Liljan Daoud

The Iranian protests have once again interested the Swedish debaters this week - perhaps as a response to last week's criticism of a lack of support after mahsa Jina Aminis death. This week's debate has also discussed the veil and how, according to the debaters, it symbolizes the systematic the oppression of women.

October 3, 2022, Current debate

Week 38: Debaters demand support for Iranian women's freedom struggle

Protests have spread across Iran, and also elsewhere in the world, since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being beaten by Iran's so-called morality police for wearing her veil "the wrong way". The protests have been a central topic on Swedish debate and editorial pages during the past week. Pictured: Protest in London against the compulsion for women to wear the veil in Iran. Photo: Gary Knight. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

The wave of protests in Iran, which erupted after the 22-year-old mahsa Aminis death that occurred in connection with her arrest by the Iranian morality police, has characterized the past week's debate and editorial pages. Several debaters are now calling on governments, organizations and individuals to support Iranian women's fight for freedom. Concerns about the consequences of cuts in Swedish aid has also been debated.

September 26, 2022, Current debate

Cultural expression is not a matter of course for everyone

Mehdi rajabian setar مهدی رجبیان سه تار نوازی. Jpg "by Mif.dang. CC Search.

Of: Isabelle Hed

In repressive regimes, cultural expression can have devastating consequences. Composer Mehdi Rajabian has been arrested for the third time due to the Iranian regime's disapproval of his music. Privileged countries must act on the basis of their assigned rights and freedoms for those living under tyranny and oppression.

September 25, 2020, Chronicle

"Global emission reductions must be the overriding goal of policy"

The international perspective must permeate all Swedish climate policy, write nine researchers at DN Debatt.

Of: Sarah Hyde

Sweden's climate policy has continued to be debated on several opinion pages during the week. Some want the international perspective to permeate Swedish climate policy, others that large-scale environmental damage should become an international crime. The EU's role in the US-Iran conflict has also been discussed.

January 16, 2020, Current debate