Brussels outrage over Lund 'slave auction'
What began as a tasteless student joke in Lund has now elevated and seized the attention of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
The organisation, based in Brussels, wrote an open letter to Sweden's Minister for Democracy and European Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson expressing its utter disgust at the "slave auction" in Lund.
The incident took place last Saturday at a “jungle party” party organised by the student organization Halland Nation, where three people with blackened faces and lynching ropes around their necks were led into the hall by a white "slave trader."
“Te ENAR condemns without reservation such actions and stresses that such behaviour is totally unacceptable in a country of long Human Rights tradition such as Sweden,” said ENAR Chairperson Inari Chibo Onyeji and its director Michael Privot in the letter to the Swedish minister.
The organisation requested that the Swedish government take action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
“As these crimes are motivated by racial hatred the Swedish government is obliged to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of members of minority communities,” the letter added.
Finally the ENAR, a network composed of more than 700 organizations working to combat racism in all EU member states, reminds Ohlsson that 2011 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the Year For People of African Descent.
All member countries should, therefore, make every effort this year to ensure that people of African descent have the opportunity to fully enjoy their economic, cultural, civil, social and political rights.
"The time to demonstrate real commitment has come for the Swedish government, " the letter said.
Last weekend’s party was attended by around 90 people. The "slaves" were then sold during the course of the evening and the party moved on to Helsingkrona union.
The incident further escalated last Wednesday after Jallow Momodou, the member of the National Afro-Swedish Association (Afrosvenskarnas riksförbund) who reported the two affiliated student associations, became subjected to racial slurs and posters featuring his face superimposed on the image of a naked man in chains.
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The organisation, based in Brussels, wrote an open letter to Sweden's Minister for Democracy and European Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson expressing its utter disgust at the "slave auction" in Lund.
The incident took place last Saturday at a “jungle party” party organised by the student organization Halland Nation, where three people with blackened faces and lynching ropes around their necks were led into the hall by a white "slave trader."
“Te ENAR condemns without reservation such actions and stresses that such behaviour is totally unacceptable in a country of long Human Rights tradition such as Sweden,” said ENAR Chairperson Inari Chibo Onyeji and its director Michael Privot in the letter to the Swedish minister.
The organisation requested that the Swedish government take action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
“As these crimes are motivated by racial hatred the Swedish government is obliged to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of members of minority communities,” the letter added.
Finally the ENAR, a network composed of more than 700 organizations working to combat racism in all EU member states, reminds Ohlsson that 2011 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the Year For People of African Descent.
All member countries should, therefore, make every effort this year to ensure that people of African descent have the opportunity to fully enjoy their economic, cultural, civil, social and political rights.
"The time to demonstrate real commitment has come for the Swedish government, " the letter said.
Last weekend’s party was attended by around 90 people. The "slaves" were then sold during the course of the evening and the party moved on to Helsingkrona union.
The incident further escalated last Wednesday after Jallow Momodou, the member of the National Afro-Swedish Association (Afrosvenskarnas riksförbund) who reported the two affiliated student associations, became subjected to racial slurs and posters featuring his face superimposed on the image of a naked man in chains.
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