Sweden, Larsson, G. and Stjernholm S. (2014) Xenophobic acts against faith communities (Främlingsfientliga handlingar mot trossamfund) Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities (Myndigheten för stöd till trossamfund, SST)

Country

Sweden

Title

Sweden, Larsson, G. and Stjernholm S. (2014) Xenophobic acts against faith communities (Främlingsfientliga handlingar mot trossamfund) Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities (Myndigheten för stöd till trossamfund, SST)

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Year

2014

Type of publication

Study - qualitative research

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Public authority

Institution

Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities | Myndigheten för stöd till trossamfund |SST

Main Thematic Focus

Hate crime Racism & xenophobia Discrimination

Target Population

Muslims

Key findings

The report shows that Islamophobic actions and threats are very common, especially against women wearing headscarves. Several of the Muslim interviewees state that as a Muslim, you "get used to" insults, graffiti as well discrimination in contact with civil servants and employers. Several mosques have experienced both major and minor attacks. These include, e.g. damages, firebombs, anti-Muslim graffiti and also parts of pig carcasses thrown on the premises. Furthermore, the Muslim communities are not likely to have sufficient knowledge about the illegality of hate crimes, nor are they likely to have contact with local anti-discrimination agencies or the Discrimination Ombudsman.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

The report consists of a review of previous reports and literature on the subject, both qualitative and quantitative. The literature review focused on material published from 2007 until the autumn of 2014. In order to complement the already existing literature the report also conducted qualitative collections of data e.g. hearings with representatives of several religious communities as well as interviews and meetings with individual representatives and government officials

Sample details and representativeness

The data collection consisted of 14 interviews/meetings with individual representatives and government officials carried out April – September 2014.
A two-day hearing with 6 representatives from Muslim organisations, 12 representatives from Christians organisations and 10 representatives from other religions carried out 16 – 17 June 2014. Opinions and answers to the same questions asked in above-mentioned hearings were also obtained from the Jewish Central Council (Judiska centralrådet) and Jewish congregations in Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.