Outrage Over Court's Lenient Sentence and Deportation Decision in Skellefteå Rape Case

In a high-profile legal case from Skellefteå, 17-year-old Meya Åberg was raped by an 18-year-old man, a traumatic event that sparked national and international outrage over the legal outcome. The incident, which occurred as Meya walked home after work at McDonald's, involved the attacker physically restraining her and assaulting her in a tunnel. Although initially acquitted, the man was later convicted by the appellate court and sentenced to three years in prison. However, the court chose not to deport him, stating that the crime did not meet the legal threshold of a "particularly severe crime" required for deportation under current Swedish law.

Meya's father, Johan Åberg, criticized the court for minimizing the severity of the assault based on its short duration, which was said to last only seconds to a minute. He emphasized the lasting psychological trauma suffered by his daughter, who faced fear and emotional distress including nightmares and panic, especially after encountering her attacker multiple times post-incident. Meya herself has spoken openly about her experiences, expressing a desire to encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward despite the emotional challenges she endured.

Migrationsminister Johan Forssell has publicly condemned the court's refusal to deport the attacker, labeling the situation a "double violation" against the victim. Forssell highlighted the flaws in the current legal framework, which protects offenders with refugee status if the crime is not deemed "particularly severe." He advocates reforming the laws to allow easier deportation of refugees who commit serious crimes and even suggested challenging European human rights conventions to achieve this. The case has attracted widespread criticism from public figures, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr., who decried the lenient legal response.

The case continues to fuel a vigorous debate in Sweden about sexual assault sentencing and immigrant criminal policies, with calls for the Supreme Court to review the case and for legislative changes to better protect victims and ensure justice. As of October 28, 2025, the attacker remains imprisoned but not deported, underscoring the ongoing legal and political controversy surrounding this issue.