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The clan has become the word on everyone’s lips in the crime debate after Police Chief Mats Löfving used it in Ekot’s interview on Saturday. He spoke of some 40 clans that commit systematic crimes in Sweden.
The phenomenon is nothing new for the leaders of the Liberal Party, who already 20 years ago created debate by pointing out problems in integration. At a recent press conference, he drew parallels between honor cultures, religious extremism, and clan crime.
What do you mean by the common denominator?
– It’s oppression. Strong patriarchal traditions where women are second-class citizens and children are treated as property without their own rights. Family-based criminal gangs are often made up of families united by concepts of honor. There can be both moral vigilance and radicalization. All of this has been collected, especially in our most vulnerable suburbs, says Nyamko Sabuni.
– Sweden is a society in which politicians like to close their eyes to phenomena that do not concern their own daily life. But now people are affected outside of our vulnerable areas as well – so-called humiliation robberies are one of those things. Children or young people living in strongly patriarchal traditions, perhaps themselves exposed to violence, take their frustration out on others. For these young people, it is essential that they take them out of their family environment and their life zone.
Should the police play a greater role in such situations?
– I see a problem in the fact that today we have laws that give the police the right to bring a pet that is abused but cannot take a child. The child can stay and then the police can report concerns to the social services office. I am convinced that there have been situations in which the police have been able to judge that we should bring this child here. They should be given the opportunity to do so, says Nyamko Sabuni.
“There will be clans also in the future and there should be, as long as Swedish law is not violated, children’s rights are not violated and equality is respected.”
Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
Clans are held together by a strong mass of rules and traditions. What is your recipe for breaking it down?
– It is important to distinguish between clans. I myself would say that I am from a clan society. My people are also a clan. The clan is not the problem. On the contrary, much of the world has to organize its life in the form of clans because there is no society that attends. The police are not for citizens but an enemy. There is nothing wrong with clans. I prefer to say family-based criminal gangs. Care must be taken to view clans as negative in themselves.
– There will be clans also in the future and there should be, as long as it does not violate Swedish law, respect equality and does not violate children’s rights.
But how does that go with what you say about the culture of honor and patriarchal traditions as part of these clans?
– What I am saying is that what Sweden wants for its citizens should apply to all citizens. Or we abdicate and let it be. Or we say that your children also have human rights and we will help them. And remember that violence within the family is a widespread phenomenon, it is not something that only exists within a clan with a culture of honor. But we must not accept violence in any family.
Wide-ranging proposals such as anonymous witnesses, visitation zones, and wiretapping without concrete criminal suspicion are now being discussed. To what extent are you prepared to expand legal certainty and integrity to make law enforcement more effective?
– The rule of law must always be maintained, it generates trust between people and the judiciary. On the other hand, Swedish law must adapt to changing times and the new types of crime we have today. Sweden does not look the same today as it did in the late 20th century. It is something completely different. Then the legislation must be brought up to date.
Now there is talk of entire families who simply do not want to integrate into Swedish society. But what role do you think racism, open or hidden, plays in preventing immigrants from entering Swedish society?
– Some call it racism, I call it the oppression of low expectations. Not much is expected of “the others”. I notice that it exists in school, in work life and with the authorities. But I wouldn’t say that racism is the biggest problem that makes us fail with integration.
You have said that Sweden will not have vulnerable areas by 2030. What will be crucial to get there?
– It’s that we have schools where everyone who goes to the ninth grade has high school eligibility. And it has to start in preschool. The second is employment. More people must get to work. It’s also about living environments. Overcrowding is a big problem.
– And of course to fight crime. When families take over an entire neighborhood and threaten others, society must step in and ensure that citizens are safe.
Read more: The police: about 40 clans organize crime in Sweden
Read more: Parts of the police don’t want to talk about the concept of clans
