Minister: The purpose is to damage Sweden's image abroad
It is "directly harmful to Sweden and Swedish interests" that an incorrect translation of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's (M) statements at Pustervik in Gothenburg is spread on Arabic-language social media. This is what Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister for Civil Defence, writes on X.
"The purpose is clear: To damage the image of Sweden abroad and contribute to further polarization and division."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) have urged not to spread the incorrect information.
According to the incorrect translation, Kristersson said that Israel has the right to commit genocide. In fact, he said that "Sweden and the EU are united in that Israel has the right to people... to defense within the framework of international law".
Some traditional media are on a similarly misleading track. The Turkish TV channel TRT World translates Kristersson's "people" into "genoci...", according to TT.
*************************************
Terrorist researcher: Millions can be reached if Al-Jazeera spreads
The spread in Arabic-language social media of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's (M) incorrectly translated statement is "terribly difficult" to do anything about. That's what Middle East and terrorist researcher Magnus Norell tells SvD.
However, Norell believes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was absolutely right to go out and warn against contributing to its spread.
- Absolutely. And it should be done loud, clear, and constantly. Sweden has a bit of a hard time with that, we sometimes back down too easily.
Magnus Ranstorp, terrorism researcher at the Norwegian Defense Academy, believes that the incident combines the already high threat picture against Sweden with the polarizing Israel-Gaza conflict. How big it will be is hard to say, but if major TV channels like Al-Jazeera pick up the incorrect translation, it risks reaching millions of people, he says.
- It is difficult for the government and authorities, apart from what they are already doing, to simply reduce the spread.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar