Swedish police investigates Ku Klux Klan man
Swedish police have launched an investigation into whether former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke has committed "incitement to hatred against a minority group" in Sweden.
He has held speeches and has participated in radio broadcasts in Sweden on a number of occasions. In February Duke was in Helsingborg where he spoke before nazis and right wing extremists from Sweden and Denmark.
An initial police inquiry was closed three weeks ago on the grounds that he is resident in the United States. The prosecutor concluded that it would not be possible to push an investigation in Sweden all the way through to a prosecution.
But that decision has been overturned by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Malmö, Sven-Erik Alhem, and the police inquiry has restarted, reported Sydsvenskan.
Alhem came to his decision after interviewing Pär Brunmark, the man who initially reported the former Ku Klux Klan leader to the police and who has tracked his work in Sweden for several years.
According to Brunmark, Duke has incited hatred against Jews, which, he says, is documented in recorded speeches.
"We cannot with complete certainty say that he will stay away from Sweden for ever. Therefore, assuming that he has committed a crime, it is wrong to allow him to be let off for what he's done," said Sven-Erik Alhem to Sydsvenskan.
TT/The Local
Comments
See Also
He has held speeches and has participated in radio broadcasts in Sweden on a number of occasions. In February Duke was in Helsingborg where he spoke before nazis and right wing extremists from Sweden and Denmark.
An initial police inquiry was closed three weeks ago on the grounds that he is resident in the United States. The prosecutor concluded that it would not be possible to push an investigation in Sweden all the way through to a prosecution.
But that decision has been overturned by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Malmö, Sven-Erik Alhem, and the police inquiry has restarted, reported Sydsvenskan.
Alhem came to his decision after interviewing Pär Brunmark, the man who initially reported the former Ku Klux Klan leader to the police and who has tracked his work in Sweden for several years.
According to Brunmark, Duke has incited hatred against Jews, which, he says, is documented in recorded speeches.
"We cannot with complete certainty say that he will stay away from Sweden for ever. Therefore, assuming that he has committed a crime, it is wrong to allow him to be let off for what he's done," said Sven-Erik Alhem to Sydsvenskan.
TT/The Local
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.