Democracy Minister Birgitta Ohlsson wants to introduce tougher penalties for those who threaten journalists and others who have jobs that are considered essential for democracy. In a first stage, the government decides on Thursday, should these threats be identified.
– It could be gang criminals who threaten journalists, it can be the autonomous left who attack prosecutors or right-wing government is harassing staff. I want to identify how the problem looks, says Birgitta Ohlsson.
An example of the the government now want to access is a threat that the newspaper Östgötaleden Correspondent and editor Charlotta Friborgs staff had received, after you told me about a drug seizures linked to organized crime.
– Throughout the fall of last year we had a palpable courtship of people who stood and hung outside the editorial office and wanted to highlight that they saw and knew who we were says Charlotta Friborg.
Were you scared?
– Yes, you could probably say. For us it has been a realization that we live in a tougher reality.
Crime Prevention Council (BRA) focus government to analyze threats, violence and harassment against persons charged with or employment of particular importance for the democratic society. Besides politicians, for example, threats to people in the judiciary, journalists and government.
According democracy minister Birgitta Ohlsson’s staff at the Migration Board and the Employment Service especially vulnerable, and she wants to introduce tougher penalties.
– It’s not just a threat to an individual without a threat to democracy and society, and therefore must have a sharper legislation to stop this form of violations, she said.
Tougher punishment simply
– Yes, tougher sentencing.
Do you have the chance to find support for this view in the government?
– The Liberal Party will continue to fight for it, but we have not convinced everyone. I think we are moving towards an increasingly challenging environment in our society and we have to actually strengthen the legislation.
good to be ready with the mission of our and the stated purpose of Birgitta Ohlsson is to get a basis for further work.
– I have followed many newspaper offices the past few years and seen how journalists engaged in self-censorship, I have seen every three prosecutors are exposed to threats, violence and harassment. There has been a long time in our country and we must take it very seriously, she says.
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