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
Year
Type of publication
Geographical coverage
National
Area/location of interest
Type of Institution
Public authority
Institution
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.