DO: Discrimination when intern with Turkish connection was denied placement

Stockholm University violated the discrimination law when it denied a female intern placement with reference to the Turkish state’s foreign policy actions. This is the assessment of the Discrimination Ombudsman, DO, in a recently concluded case.

It was in connection with Stockholm University’s recruitment for a research project that the woman applied but was rejected. In the application, it was stated, among other things, that she lived in Turkey and studied at a Turkish university.

The professor responsible for the project denied her application with reference to Turkey’s foreign policy actions.

According to Mitt i, the decision led to the case being taken to DO, where it is considered that there is a connection between the woman’s disadvantage and her presumed ethnic background.

According to the authority, the woman has been “treated worse than another hypothetical person would have been treated in a comparable situation”.

Discrimination Ombudsman Lars Arrhenius. Photo: Stina Gränfors

Offered another placement

The professor denies that the action constituted discrimination but admits that his response was inappropriate and incorrect.

Stockholm University has now apologized to the woman and shortly thereafter she was accepted as an intern by another professor at the university for a different research project.