“Polarized image of vulnerable areas”

Ahmed Abdirahman says the debate on gang crime and the networks of criminal families, clans, runs the risk of becoming one-sided. Stock Photography.Image: Simon Rehnström / SvD / TT

– Sweden has a very polarized image of vulnerable areas. Due to segregation, many established Swedes lack close friends, co-workers or schoolmates with other backgrounds, who can give a bigger picture of what it’s like to live in such an area, says Ahmed Abdirahman, executive director of the non-profit foundation. The Global Village Foundation for profit. which, among other things, organizes the Järva Week.

He believes that the recent debate on gang crime and criminal family networks, clans, in Sweden is important. At the same time, it calls for a more inclusive perspective.

– Those of us who live in vulnerable areas have been asking for this discussion for a long time. At the same time, there is a risk that the debate will become unbalanced if not all voices are allowed to speak. If we don’t talk to each other, we end up misunderstanding each other, says Ahmed Abdirahman.

He says he feels that few people really know what a clan is.

– It is a very effective word that makes great headlines but means different things to different people depending on their background. The risk is that, as always, a stamp is put on anyone who comes from certain areas or certain countries and believes that they must submit to the rules of the clan and that the clan governs their life. A concept that the clan must deepen and explain, says Ahmed Abdirahman.

Therefore, he wants to create meeting places between Swedish politicians and for housing in vulnerable areas to discuss what investments are needed in the areas. Next Monday, the leader of the Liberals party, Nyamko Sabuni, will come to Tensta, west of Stockholm, to answer questions from residents about, among other things, the party’s thoughts on crime, school and work. .

– The foundation has invited all party leaders to similar individual meetings, we’ll see who says yes, says Ahmed Abdirahman.

He believes that the meetings are important because many in vulnerable areas do not have strong voices to defend their arguments.

– In Sweden, we often rely on interest groups, such as trade unions, non-profit associations and business organizations, who influence politicians. But the new citizens do not have that tradition and are not members of organizations that pursue their interests. I want them to be able to ask whatever questions they want without a controlled agenda, says Ahmed Abdirahman, continuing:

– If we do not extend this conversation to affected groups, I think many may have a completely wrong image of what vulnerable areas are like in Sweden or investments that do not solve the daily problems of residents. It becomes like a movie that we have no relationship with or understand, says Ahmed Abdirahman.