Thursday’s episode of Skavlan on SVT has attracted a great deal of attention, after the debate about imprisoning children from the age of 13 became heated. The participants interrupted one another, and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) barely managed to complete a sentence about the government’s policy. The artist Simon Superti was one of those who raised his voice, made statements about fascism, and argued that the child soldiers should instead receive “a hug.” Who is Simon Superti? Samnytt can tell you more about the artist, who has been convicted of a number of crimes and has also produced music for some of Sweden’s most notorious gangsta rappers.

One of the proposals that sparked the strongest reactions on the program was plans to introduce, from summer 2026, the possibility of sentencing 13-year-olds to prison for serious crimes. This issue was the main focus when Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) met journalist Hanne Kjöller, artist Simon Superti, author and lawyer Malin Persson Giolito, and actor Ayan Ahmed for a discussion about criminal policy and societal development.

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The conversation quickly became tense. The tone escalated, participants spoke over each other, and much of the criticism was directed at Strömmer. The government’s line, run together with the Sweden Democrats, is to toughen penalties to curb gang crime—a problem that has reached ever younger individuals and become increasingly brutal, with deadly violence, explosions, and attacks affecting both residential neighborhoods and public spaces.

According to Gunnar Strömmer, society cannot continue to spend millions on well-intentioned initiatives for care and support that over the years have failed to solve the problems. Instead, he argues, child soldiers must be punished and kept away from law-abiding citizens.

“This is my country – give them a hug”

The artist Simon Superti, who grew up in Gottsunda, a troubled area in Uppsala, and has a background in gangsta rap as well as experience from gang environments including drug convictions, was one of those at the table who most clearly pushed the line that criminals should not be punished more harshly.

– I can’t understand how you can sit here so calmly and talk about such a dreadful, inhumane proposal, like locking up 13-year-olds. You know, I know, there is no sense of consequence at that age. They care more about what their friends and the older, cool guys think than about their own punishment, argued Superti.

On several occasions, he let his emotions take over, and could be heard in the background while someone else was speaking, saying he was “pissed off.” He also played the fascist card in the discussion of punishing criminals, even though the starting point was that society must act against serious violence—where for example 13-year-olds carry out attacks, even contract killings.

– I am involved. This is fascism in my book. We’re going to lock up thirteen-year-olds. What do you think will become of society? I’m afraid of what society will look like in 20 years. This is my country. I care for my country and our country, says Superti.

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Superti was then asked directly what he himself believes should be done with 13-year-olds who shoot and commit the violent crimes currently shaking Sweden.

– What should be done with 13-year-olds who shoot? Give them a hug, he replied.

READ ALSO: 14-year-olds shot dead a banker in Skurup – cannot be punished

The artist continued to elaborate his reasoning, saying that so-called child soldiers need treatment, care, support and rehabilitation—but not prison. He was then supported by lawyer Malin Persson Giolito, who stated that child soldiers who commit murder:

– They shouldn’t be locked up, Persson Giolito said, suggesting the discussion was “derailing.”

SEE VIDEO: Child soldier shoots at nightclub queue on Stureplan

Anyone wishing to view the entire SVT debate can watch the program HERE.

Who is the artist who wants to hand out hugs instead of prison sentences?

Who is Simon Superti, the person who was invited by the public broadcaster and who argued vehemently against punishing child soldiers committing serious acts of violence, while simultaneously lecturing Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) with claims that referral bodies like the Swedish Prosecution Authority are critical of the Tidö government’s measures to stop the violence?

READ ALSO: Activist prosecutors in revolt – refuse to prosecute 13-year-old gang murderers

In recent years, artist Simon Superti has been welcomed by mainstream media, having participated in beloved TV shows such as Så mycket bättre and even won a Grammis award.

Superti has previous entries in the criminal record for various drug offenses; even further back, there are convictions for assault, vandalism, and weapons offenses. One of the drug convictions resulted in eleven months in prison.

Additionally, Superti has also stood trial for minor threats against a public official, as well as assault against a public official, but was acquitted by Uppsala District Court. Court documents show that the police and prosecutor pursued a case against him in the spring of 2014 after he was suspected of spitting at a guard on a train between Arlanda airport and Uppsala.

The incident occurred during a ticket inspection, where according to the guards, it became clear Superti was traveling without a ticket, and based on accounts, he became visibly frustrated and shouted when confronted about it.

Further, court documents state that the guard allegedly asked Superti to stop spitting at him while they talked. According to the guard, Superti continued and reportedly said: “I spit as much as I like”, while stating the guard should step back if he didn’t want to be hit by saliva.

When Uppsala District Court announced its judgment in autumn 2014, the court sided with Superti, concluding that the guard should have understood that he needed to move if he didn’t want to be spat on.

This was because, according to the court, it’s understandable that saliva may spray when someone is having a frustrated discussion and there was no criminal intent. Superti was therefore acquitted of charges of minor threats and assault against a public official.

In the District Court’s view, it does not appear that Simon Superti acted with indifference toward the consequences in the way required to be considered intentional. Simon Superti is thus also acquitted of the charge of assault against a public official.

Uppsala District Court

Glorified the gang environment

In his own music, Simon Superti has portrayed himself as a person within the gang environment and has boasted about drug dealing. In one song, Simon Superti and his friends boast that you can get whatever you want through him and his gang. His friends brag in their rap about shootings that “make the neighbors uneasy” and about their imprisoned brothers.

He himself mostly chooses to boast about drug dealing in his songs.

– ‘Rolling in a caravan, our hide-and-seek screws customs, as soon as my phone rings, the moment is won. We double up to double sums, forced, no way back. From a hecto on a scale to bags that would give sixteen (years in prison, editor’s note) if you got caught.’

This is the kind of thing Simon Superti was rapping about just a few years before he ended up in the SVT studio to argue against tougher sentencing, despite the fact that child soldiers are now central figures in gang crime and are behind the serious violence on the streets.

Superti also rapped about not testifying in a court process, which he claims is why he served a prison sentence, and that he “stood with a hammer like a carpenter (slang for pistol, editor’s note) and sent packages.”

The Grammis winner also said in the song that his gang’s drugs—specifically “slejf” (cocaine, editor’s note)—are always “adjab,” which in suburban slang, inspired by Arabic, means “crazy good.”

Alongside his own rap career, he has above all produced music for other gangsta rappers, several of whom have strong connections to criminal networks in the Stockholm area.

– ‘Professional criminal, that’s me and who are you,’ raps the artist Z.E. in one of Superti’s songs, and continues:

– ‘Yes, yes, duty officer, we’ll slaughter you on the spot, bro, we’ll make you halal.’

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