NCJ Number
44679
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 289-301
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
AN EMERGENCY ANTITERRORIST LAW PASSED IN SWEDEN IN 1973 IS DESCRIBED AND CRITICIZED BECAUSE OF ITS TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS AND POLITICALLY ACTIVE PERSONS.
Abstract
FOLLOWING A TERRORIST INCIDENT IN 1972, A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A SWEDISH ANTITERRORIST LAW WAS FORMED. THE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED THE NEW CONCEPT OF 'PRESUMPTIVE TERRORIST,' DEFINED AS ANY FOREIGNER WHO 'BELONGS TO OR WORKS FOR AN ORGANIZATION OR GROUP WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED TO USE VIOLENCE, THREAT OR COERCION...' THIS CATEGORY COULD ALSO BE APPLIED TO PERSONS WHO WERE NOT MEMBERS OF, BUT WHO OPENLY EXPRESSED THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH, AN ORGANIZATION LABELED AS TERRORIST. EVENTS SURROUNDING THE PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATION IN 1973 ARE DETAILED, AND INITIAL CRITICISM IS DISCUSSED. ATTEMPTS TO ABOLISH THE LAW IN 1974 AND 1975 FAILED, BUT CHANGES WERE PROPOSED IN 1975 TO CREATE PERSONAL CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A PRESUMPTIVE TERRORIST AND TO BETTER DEFINE WHICH ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE LABELED AS TERRORIST. THE AUTHOR VIEWS THE LEGISLATION, VOTED INTO PERMANENT STATUS IN 1975, AS A CONTINUATION OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES WHICH HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SOME TIME IN SWEDEN WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN WORKERS.