Vänsterpartiet Politicians Defend Controversial Activist Actions Against Government Ministers

Several politicians from Sweden’s Vänsterpartiet have publicly supported a provocative protest by the activist group Rojavakommittéerna, which targeted the homes of two Moderate Party ministers with threatening symbols. The group placed a basket of apples painted with Adolf Hitler's face outside Migration Minister Johan Forssell’s home and a doll depicting an IS terrorist holding a severed head outside Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa’s residence.

Showan Shattak, a Vänsterpartiet member of Malmö’s municipal council, defended the activist group’s actions “110 percent,” arguing that the protests were justified to expose what he calls the government’s scandalous cooperation with Syria’s regime, which allegedly violates international sanctions and has ties to al-Qaeda. Shattak emphasized the need for spotlighting these issues, even through such controversial means.

However, the actions have sparked a fierce backlash. A man in his 40s was detained in connection with making threats related to these protests. Fredrik Kärrholm, a member of the Justice Committee, condemned the incidents as extremely inappropriate and warned that they encourage criminal behavior. Kärrholm has called on Vänsterpartiet leader Nooshi Dadgostar to clarify the party’s stance.

Within Vänsterpartiet, reactions are mixed. Jesper Sahlén, a district chairman in Skåne, criticized party members who endorsed the protest posts on social media and urged them to refrain from supporting such actions in the future. Sahlén acknowledged the concerns about the situation in Rojava but described the activist group's methods as unacceptable. The Rojavakommittéerna subsequently removed the controversial Instagram posts featuring the protests.

These events have intensified the debate surrounding the boundaries of political activism and protest tactics in Sweden, particularly in relation to government policies and international relations.