Amnesty Sweden is organizing, together with the publicly funded Helamalmö, a Palestine Night in Malmö featuring political scientist Valley Ghanem. Ghanem recently attracted attention after writing ‘may she burn’ about the Liberal party leader Simona Mohamsson. The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) is now investigating the statement as a suspected unlawful threat. At the same time, one of Amnesty’s own lawyers has come out in defense of Ghanem. ‘Horrible,’ says Magnus Olsson (Sweden Democrats) to Samnytt.

On September 3, a book release will be held for author Johannes Anyuru at Moriska Paviljongen in Malmö. According to the organizers, it is described as an ‘evening in solidarity with Palestine,’ with food, discussions, and readings. The event is organized by ‘Helamalmö,’ ‘Justice for All,’ and Amnesty.

On the poster are, among others, political scientist Valley Ghanem, author Shora Esmailian, and Johannes Anyuru. Ghanem’s participation comes just weeks after the noted reaction to Liberal party leader Simona Mohamsson’s decision to wear a Star of David during a party leaders’ debate.

Ghanem at the time described Mohamsson as, among other things, ‘evil by will’ and a ‘self-hating being.’ In a subsequent comment field, she wrote ‘may she burn.’ Mohamsson reported the statement to the police and Säpo subsequently began a preliminary investigation into unlawful threats.

Amnesty lawyer defends Ghanem

After the criticism, Ghanem herself stated that the phrasing was ‘unnecessary’ and written in the heat of the moment. She has also claimed that she did not mean that Mohamsson should literally be burned, but was referring to the afterlife.

Ghanem has also received support from Abdi Hassan, a lawyer and expert on racism and international law at Amnesty Sweden. On social media, Hassan described the criticism against Ghanem as a ‘witch hunt’ and wrote that it shows there is ‘zero space in Swedish debate for the unique vulnerability of Palestinians.’ He concluded with the words ‘factual or not.’

Political scientist Daniel Schatz, who highlighted the event, also reacted to Hassan’s own social media profile. In a screenshot from Hassan’s Instagram account, the text ‘#FreePalestine’ is followed by a downward-pointing red triangle.

The red triangle has gained special significance after Hamas’ terror attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, use the symbol in propaganda films to mark Israeli soldiers and vehicles to be targeted. The symbol has since spread among parts of the pro-Palestinian movement.

Egyptson has previously examined the connections

Hassan’s role at Amnesty has also previously been highlighted by Islamist researcher and Christian Democrat candidate Sameh Egyptson. In March, he asked whether ‘Islamist networks have gained influence in Amnesty International.’

Egyptson pointed out, among other things, Hassan’s connections to researchers Amanj Aziz and Emin Poljarevic, whom he describes as individuals known in ‘Islamist and Islamist-apologetic circles.’

That there is an academic collaboration can be confirmed through Hassan himself. On LinkedIn, he says that he has, together with Poljarevic, written an academic article on Islamophobia and Swedish law. The article was published in a special issue of Islamophobia Studies Journal, edited by, among others, Amanj Aziz and Poljarevic.

Egyptson has also pointed to other individuals within Amnesty Sweden’s organization. Among others, Alve Högman, who was elected to Amnesty’s board in 2024 and re-elected for the period 2026–2028. Högman was between 2019 and 2022 the head of the Muslim study association Ibn Rushd.

Several controversial names

Other participants at the Palestine Night have also previously been criticized for statements after Hamas’ attack on October 7.

Shora Esmailian wrote on the same day as the terror attack, to an image of Hamas breaking through the border barrier into Israel: ‘If this is possible, anything is possible!’ The following day, she defended the taking of Israeli hostages as ‘the only chance for Palestinians to negotiate for freedom.’ The claims have been reported by the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism and in a later decision from the Media Ombudsman.

Johannes Anyuru, in turn, has repeatedly been criticized by the Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism. SKMA has, among other things, accused him of using expressions ‘historically clearly colored by antisemitic language’ and of spreading false claims about the organization. Anyuru has rejected the criticism himself and accused SKMA of using antisemitism allegations to limit solidarity with Palestine.

SD Malmö: ‘Horrible’

The event’s third main organizer, Helamalmö, is meanwhile funded with tax money from the City of Malmö. In March, the city council decided to grant the organization 1.75 million SEK in operating subsidies for 2026. The City Office’s original proposal was just over 908,000 SEK, but the city council opted for the higher amount.

Magnus Olsson, municipal commissioner for Sweden Democrats in Malmö, thinks it is horrible and has said no to funding similar organizations.

‘I think it is horrible and sheer waste. A municipality that is also dependent on various government grants should focus on its core business,’ he told Samnytt.

He also argues that trust in Amnesty has not been affected, as it never existed in the first place.

‘I have never had confidence in that type of organization, which has been hijacked by the left,’ he says and continues.

‘We have said no to so-called democracy initiatives whose purpose is to benefit the left. A municipality arranges elections but has no other obligations connected to our various elections.’