Updated 23.36 | Published 23.00
Abir Al-Sahlani (C) reacted against the behavior of the right-wing extremists in the EU Parliament.
Hatred was then directed at her and a Danish member of parliament wrote that she “should go home”.
– We have asked for disciplinary measures, says Al-Sahlani.
EU had just decided on the toughest immigration laws in decades. Then the extreme right cheered and chanted “Send them back” in the plenary hall.
One who was present in the hall was Abir Al-Sahlani, Member of Parliament for the Center Party.
– It was very unpleasant. There was such a high level of testosterone in the room. These men, they are mostly men, when they started waving their arms and punching the air, I experienced them as primitive savages, she says.
“Tried to reach the Speaker”
Abir Al-Sahlani therefore later gave a speech.
– I tried to reach the speaker who chaired the session. I think it is part of a speaker’s duties to make sure that everyone feels safe and secure. I understand that we can have hectic debates, politicians in between. I have sat and listened to their horrors before. But I’ve never experienced that it’s about a person, but it’s always political ideas. But not this time, she says.
Al-Sahlani’s speech was later published on social media.
Parliamentarians from ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists), the group that includes the Sweden Democrats, reacted to the post.
Finnish parliamentarian Sebastian Tynkkynen (from the True Finns party) posted a clip that included parts of Abir Al-Sahlani’s speech. He quoted her and added the words “Cry more”.
“Racial exclusion”
Another parliamentarian, Danish Kristoffer Storm, commented on the clip. He wrote that Abir Al-Sahlani “should go home”.
– This shows exactly what this bill is about. It is absolutely not about criminals. It is about racial exclusion. Because here you have an immigrant who has migrated here, who has applied for asylum, who has learned Swedish, who has studied here, who has worked, paid taxes, behaved himself, committed no crime. Who are actually involved in building democracy. And defends democracy, says Abir Al-Sahlani.
She continues:
– Still, they think it’s reasonable to write that I’m going home. I’m already at home and both my party and the voters have actually decided that.
Abir Al-Sahlani saw the post earlier this evening.
– My head of office had noticed it.
They will now report the Danish parliamentarian.
– We have already written to the speaker and asked for disciplinary measures. We’ll have to wait and see what he says.
Aftonbladet is looking for Kristoffer Storm.
