Swedish MEPs Unite for Djalali’s Release, but Clash Over Gaza Conflict
Swedish MEPs unite for Ahmadreza Djalali’s release amid divisions over the Gaza conflict.
Key Points
- • Unanimous support for Ahmadreza Djalali's release from Iranian imprisonment.
- • MEPs exhibit fierce disagreements over accusations of genocide in Gaza.
- • Calls for EU action include sanctions against Israel.
- • Diverse views within Swedish MEPs highlight political divides.
In a significant gathering at the European Parliament, Swedish MEPs rallied behind a unified call for the release of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian doctor jailed in Iran for nine years. Alice Bah Kuhnke of the Green Party emphasized Djalali’s perilous situation, stating, "In over nine years, Ahmadreza Djalali has been subjected to torture by the Iranian regime. Now the risk that he will be murdered by the regime is imminent". Evin Incir from the Social Democrats further expressed alarm over Djalali's deteriorating health, citing the lack of adequate medical care despite him suffering a heart attack last month, which he referred to as “inhumane and completely cruel.”
Despite the strong consensus concerning Djalali's plight, the debate surrounding the Gaza conflict unveiled stark divisions among Swedish MEPs. Various left-wing parties, including the Social Democrats and the Left Party, expressed grave accusations against Israel, labeling its actions as genocide. Hanna Gedin (V) provided harrowing testimonials of the dire living conditions in Gaza, urging action from the EU to address the humanitarian crisis. She lamented, "In Gaza, mothers try to breastfeed their children, but they have no milk to give because they themselves are starving. I urge you to consider what it does to a person to see their child wither away from hunger."
Evin Incir went further to call for immediate sanctions against the Israeli government, stating, "If it looks like genocide, smells like genocide, let me say what it is: it is genocide. Let us stop this hypocrisy." Similarly, Abir Al-Sahlani (C) echoed demands for a weapons embargo and a suspension of the EU's association agreement with Israel in light of the ongoing conflict.
On the opposing side, Beatrice Timgren from the Sweden Democrats refuted claims of genocide, attributing the humanitarian suffering in Gaza to Hamas’s tactics, claiming, "There is no genocide occurring. Hamas bears the responsibility for civilian suffering in Gaza by using civilians as human shields." Timgren's stance included criticism of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), highlighting concerns about its alleged ties with terrorism,
The conflict in Gaza continues to generate significant debate within Swedish political circles, reflecting deep ideological divides on how to respond to the crisis.
Currently, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and release of Djalali while addressing the contentious and polarized views regarding the situation in Gaza.