Sunday, May 4, 2025

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Germany’s security service labels AfD as extremist

Totalitarianism

Published today 8:09
– By Editorial Staff
AfD party leader Alice Weidel condemns the announcement.

The German constitutional protection agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), has decided to classify the entire Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as a “right-wing extremist” organization. The agency announced this on Friday after what it described as an “intense and comprehensive” investigation.

The classification gives the state extended powers to monitor the party, for example through wiretapping and the use of infiltrators. The BfV has previously designated the AfD’s regional branches in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt as “proven extremist”.

In its statement, the BfV mentions that the party represents a view of “ethnicity-and ancestry-based conception of the people that predominates within the party is not compatible with the free democratic order”. The agency also highlights “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic and anti-Muslim statements made by leading party officials” as reasons for its decision.

AfD party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla call the decision a politically motivated attack and condemn it in a public statement.

Today’s decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is a serious blow to German democracy: in current polls, the AfD is the strongest party. The federal government has only four days left in office, and the secret service does not even have a president anymore. And the classification as a so-called ‘suspicious case’ has not been legally finalized, the statement reads, and continues:

Nevertheless, the AfD, as an opposition party, is now being publicly discredited and criminalized shortly before the change of government. The associated targeted interference in the democratic decision-making process is therefore clearly politically motivated. The AfD will continue to defend itself legally against these defamatory attacks that threaten democracy”.

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Brits imprisoned at record numbers for opinion crimes

Totalitarianism

Published today 12:01
– By Editorial Staff

The signs of democratic decline in the UK are growing. Citizens are now being arrested in their tens of thousands for alleged crimes of opinion on social media, while freedom of expression continues to be curtailed in the country.

Western leaders often use Russia as a cautionary example of anti-democratic laws targeting the country’s citizens, while more and more countries in the West are themselves tightening the screws on the right to speak and write freely.

Hate crime laws are being used more and more frequently in the UK to silence popular discontent, according to an article in Tablet Magazine from March 2025, among other sources. According to a recent report by the free speech organization The Free Speech Union, the police make around 12,000 arrests annually for content on social media that is deemed “offensive”. This figure also marks a 58 percent increase since 2019.

Official statistics from the UK also show a clear trend. In 2023, 145,214 hate crimes were recorded, according to government data. The figure fell slightly to 140,561 in 2024, but arrests for social media posts continued to rise.

Politicians in the UK, including the current government, defend the increasingly harsh laws on the grounds that so-called minorities must be protected.

Legislation such as the Communications Act 2003 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988 underlies many interventions. These laws prohibit posts, messages, and expressions that may be considered grossly offensive or threatening.
Police make 30 arrests a day for offensive online messages, states The Free Speech Union in its analysis.

Unlike many other countries, the United Kingdom also has no formal constitution protecting freedom of expression.

The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) is intended to guarantee fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, the HRA does not have the same constitutional status and can be amended or repealed by ordinary legislation.

The Malicious Communications Act 1988 (MCA) is a UK law that prohibits sending or delivering messages, letters or other items with the intention of causing alarm or distress to the recipient. The Act applies to both physical and electronic communications, including social media posts.

Under this law, it is illegal to send messages that are:

  • Greatly offensive or indecent
  • Threatening
  • False and deliberately disseminated to mislead or harm

.For a person to be convicted, the prosecution must prove that the intention was to cause the recipient alarm or distress. The penalty can be a fine or imprisonment up to two years.

The Communications Act 2003, in particular section 127, extends the rules to electronic communications networks and prohibits sending messages that are:

  • Greatly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing
  • intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless alarm

.The mental aspect of this law is broader, meaning that it is enough that the person should have realized that the message could be offensive or risk offending the recipient.

Comment: Who protects us from our own authoritarian leaders?

Totalitarianism

The Swedish government wants to make it harder to change the constitution - under the pretext of protecting us from future "authoritarian leaders". The problem is that those who undermine democracy are already in power.

Published 2 May 2025
– By Jenny Piper
Moderates Ulf Kristersson and Gunnar Strömmer during a press conference.
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The ambitions of our decision-makers to increase their power are increasingly visible, and today is no exception. In light of the “all threats to democracy” that have emerged in the world recently, the government recently proposed to make it more difficult and require a larger majority to change the Swedish Constitution. In addition, the courts will be protected from political influence.

All parties apparently already agree. Much like everything else nowadays that involves important issues for the Swedish population, where we who take the biggest hit from the consequences are not consulted at all, but those in power make decisions as they see fit over the heads of the citizens – NATO membership, DCA agreement, unlimited support for the proxy war in Ukraine, the green transition, the spy law, the gender identity law, new pandemic law, etc. are just a few examples.

Referring to preemptively protecting the population from future authoritarian leaders is really the icing on the cake, given that they themselves already subscribe to that title.

Moreover, it sounds like it would be too easy to change constitutions now, but at the end of the day, it’s all about will. Had our ruling politicians wanted to make important changes, they would have made sure it was done, but instead they have dragged their feet for decades on important issues that would have benefited society, while laws/regulations that involve expanding their own control have been pushed through at turbo speed.

A perfect example of this is the introduction of new rules for revoking citizenship in order to counter violent extremism, which they have built a castle in the air around for almost 20 years.

As early as 2006, an investigation was presented to the government and parliament because the police had already reported that more than 1,000 war criminals were in Sweden and that they wanted to tackle the problems of people who had used bribes to obtain their citizenship or lied about their criminal background, as well as making it more difficult to obtain Swedish passports.

The report noted, among other things, that re-examination of citizenship and the possibility of revoking citizenship had already been introduced by several European countries, including Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.

In December of the same year, a representative of the Christian Democratic Party sent a written question to the Minister of Justice, Beatrice Ask (M), asking how the government intended to proceed with the information that emerged from the investigation. They also asked whether criminals who have been granted Swedish citizenship should not be deprived of their citizenship.

In January 2007, Ms. Sabuni (Liberal Party) sent a reply stating that the introduction of revocation of citizenship would require a constitutional amendment and that it could therefore not take place until after the 2010 elections at the earliest.

Now, 18 years later, quite a few elections have passed in between – not to mention how violent extremism has been allowed to develop through, for example, the IS terrorists that we so kindly took back – without the constitutional amendment taking place, even though, according to our current decision-makers, it is all too easy to push through a constitutional amendment, so that the law has to be tightened further.

Ironically, at the beginning of this year, the center-right government, together with the Sweden Democrats, presented the results of (yet another) investigation into the possible revocation of citizenship in order to get at gang criminals. If this growing problem had been addressed back in 2006, we would now have more tools – but we are not talking about that.

But don’t think that a decision is imminent. A government bill is due in 2026, which needs to be voted through in Parliament, and then another vote is needed next term to change the constitution. By then, we will probably have changed the color of the government once again, and the issue could be shelved until 2029.

This was just one example. Since there is no civil service accountability (abolished in 1974) – incidentally, an issue that has also been aged for years without being reintroduced – this abuse of power that goes on in the halls of power, where it is routine to bury important issues in investigations just in time for the next election, can continue unhindered. Yet the Swedish people continue to have high confidence in these overpaid jokers and provide them with a renewed mandate every four years, because no one can be bothered in this country.

So who should be protected when we already have authoritarian leaders in place? Rather, those in power who are looking after their nest.

 

Jenny Piper

All Jenny Piper's articles can be found on her blog.

Swedish government proposes permanent “pandemic law” with mandatory masks and testing

Totalitarianism

Published 24 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
"We need an infection control law that takes into account a pandemic", says Jakob Forssmed.

The Moderate-led government’s investigators propose that Sweden introduces a new pandemic law – this time a permanent one.

Exactly how such a law will be designed is currently unclear – but requirements to wear masks, compulsory tests, participation restrictions and curfews are highlighted as possible scenarios.

During the 2020-2021 corona crisis, Swedish authorities rushed to pass various temporary laws and restrictions that in various ways limited citizens’ freedoms and rights – the purpose of which was allegedly to reduce the spread of infection.

Among other things, face masks were imposed in many places, parents were not allowed to accompany their children to hospitals, and elderly people were left in isolation for long periods – and were not allowed to see their relatives.

Pupils were also not allowed to go to school, travel restrictions were imposed and Swedes’ ability to participate in public gatherings, events or social life in general was severely restricted.

The powers that be also took the opportunity to introduce covid passports – a kind of “digital proof” of vaccination – where unvaccinated people were not allowed to participate in public life on the same terms as those who had been injected with the vaccine.

The COVID passport was also heavily criticized and accused of being used to discriminate against those who did not want to take the experimental vaccines and create a medical apartheid society.

Rights should not be restricted “more than necessary”

Government investigator Jan Albert is now proposing a new – and permanent – law on “community-based infection control measures”, which would reportedly allow the government to act quickly and prescribe infection control measures in the community in the event of an alleged pandemic.

While arguing that the rights and freedoms of Swedes should not be curtailed “more than absolutely necessary”, the investigator wants to see legislative changes that, among other things, make it possible to carry out more large-scale testing and tracing of infections than before.

– Society has now been able to learn many important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we are better prepared for future crises. This investigation is an important step in the work to strengthen our pandemic preparedness and protect people’s lives and health, said Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD).

It cannot be ruled out that Sweden will be exposed to a new pandemic; on the contrary, it is very likely, he adds.

No “total lockdown”

Despite the talk of protecting the freedoms of Swedes, the report still proposes a number of repressive coercive measures – for example, it should be possible for the authorities to shut down various activities if there is deemed to be a high risk of infection. These measures could also be introduced without first being approved by Parliament.

You can guess that it will be about similar measures such as participation numbers and distances, says Jan Albert, but at the same time promises that there are no plans to shut down the entire society.

– We don’t have total lockdown or curfew as possible measures, he says.

Will “come back” on curfew

However, depending on how the spread of infection is assessed, it may be necessary to force Swedes to be tested – and they do not rule out introducing a requirement to wear a face mask, and the proposal is proposed to enter into force on September 1, 2026.

– This may be something that is appropriate. However, this would require assessments to be made and perhaps new knowledge to show that they are very useful, Albert continues.

We need an infection control law that takes into account a pandemic, Jakob Forssmed states, but does not want to answer whether the Moderate-led government also wants the opportunity to issue a curfew.

– We’ll have to come back to that, he says.

The Nordic Times has written a large number of articles about the corona crisis, the criticized mass vaccination campaigns and the harmful effects of the lockdown policy many of these can be read here.

Sweden’s security police warn: Regime criticism may undermine democracy

Totalitarianism

Published 19 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The head of the Swedish Security Service, Charlotte von Essen, warns against system-critical messages and narratives.

It is not only foreign powers and violent Islamists that allegedly threaten Sweden, according to the Swedish Security Service (Säpo).

Säpo also states that “anti-state narratives and conspiracy theories” are on the rise and risk developing into a constitutional threat that seriously damages Swedish democracy.

In the report “Lägesbild 2024-2025”, Security Police Commissioner Charlotte von Essen is appalled by what she describes as attempts by hostile countries to destabilize Sweden and Europe – and states that regime and system criticism is something that should be considered highly suspect – or even dangerous.

Even if Swedish democracy is strong, we need to be vigilant against a development of widespread anti-state narratives and conspiracy theories that in the long run and in the worst case can develop into unconstitutional activities and activities”, she says.

Swedish dissidents are lumped together with foreign terrorists and allegedly hostile states, and Säpo claims that together they “risk challenging and weakening Swedish democracy” or in various ways “creating divisions” in society.

Anti-state movements, pro-violence extremists and foreign powers spread disinformation, conspiracy theories and propaganda on social media, among other things. By using different types of platforms, these actors reach out widely, not least to children and young people“, it warns and continues:

The purpose of the activities is to increase distrust of Swedish society, if possible dilute polarization and, in a longer perspective, increase radicalization linked to one’s own issue or ideology“.

Doubts about the state’s ability

The Swedish Security Service admits that while dissidents often highlight real grievances, they use “simplified messages and without complementary or problematizing perspectives” – which allegedly leads to dehumanization and an increased risk of supporters resorting to violence.

At present, the threat to Sweden is said to be limited – but if the messages become more widespread and adopted by more people, the situation could also become much more serious and “undermine fundamental democratic functions and values“, it is claimed.

A much more acute threat, according to Säpo, are those individuals who “have expressed a desire to illegally and through violence change the democratic state system“.

Many times these individuals can be linked to messages that the state and society are not capable of leading the country or managing its tasks in relation to the citizens. In this narrative, it is claimed that a societal collapse will or needs to occur and then the current rulers and institutions will be powerless”, they warn.

The call: “Don’t fuel polarizing events”

These dissidents are said to “covertly” want to develop an alternative social structure to the current one, and Säpo takes a particularly serious view of those who spread this type of message.

A significant challenge for the Security Service when it comes to this type of long-term constitutional threat to democracy is to detect when there is a real intention to carry out a subversive act. Such a situation may also be of interest to foreign powers to try to exploit to their own advantage. Anti-state movements can then be used as proxies to destabilize a society and try to influence political decisions”, it further claims.

It further argues that the dissident movements are an international phenomenon and do not only threaten Sweden, and it is said to be particularly serious when “anti-state forces are mixed with conspiracy theories, extremism and violent extremism“:

Sweden is not immune to such developments as the ideas also exist here. In the current security situation, it is easy for small events to cause situations to flare up in a way that can be difficult to predict. It is important not to fuel polarizing events as this can be exploited by foreign powers and violent extremists”.

“Refrain from spreading dubious messages”

As usual, it also complains that “the rules-based world order” is under increasing pressure and appeals to Swedes to “refrain from spreading dubious messages“.

Critics note that the purpose of Säpo’s report seems to be to suspect and demonize Swedes who express criticism of those in power or the political system in various ways, and that sweeping formulations are deliberately used to portray all forms of systemic criticism as something potentially dangerous and extreme, rather than legitimate and constitutionally protected speech.

Others point out that the report seems to have a clear political bias against critics of immigration, nationalists and conservatives – with the epithet “right-wing extremist” being used repeatedly, while “left-wing extremist” does not appear at all – despite the fact that left-wing violent movements have carried out a long series of violent attacks over the years.

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