SD-politician denied entry to the Home Guard - Jomshof suspects political discrimination

The vice chairman of the Sweden Democrats in Västerbotten, Pontus Persson, reveals that his attempt to return to the Armed Forces through the Home Guard was unexpectedly halted. Despite having previously served as a professional soldier and passed both a security clearance and security interview, he received a sudden rejection. SD leader Richard Jomshof also describes a similar experience and suggests that it is likely a case of political discrimination.

The politician, who is also a political advisor for the Sweden Democrats in the Västerbotten Region, explains that he served in the Armed Forces until 2012. He then chose to leave his position, partly for economic reasons. After more than a decade out of uniform, the determination to return grew, this time while being involved with the Sweden Democrats.

According to himself, the decision to apply to the Home Guard was a result of the increasingly serious security situation. The intention was clear – he wanted to be able to contribute his military experience if the country were to face a serious situation.

In a lengthy post on the social media platform X, Pontus Persson explains that he completed the mandatory steps for admission. He encountered no problems with either the security clearance or the security interview and was approved.

A week before the planned start of training, he received the news that he describes as completely unexpected. Persson received an email from the Västerbotten group with the wording:

Due to information that has emerged in the security clearance, we unfortunately cannot accept you into the Home Guard.

This meant that he was no longer welcome to undergo the planned training, despite earlier confirmation of an approved security clearance.

Persson contacted the Northern Military Region to clarify the reason for the complete turnaround and the new rejection. There, he was reportedly informed that the security clearance was still approved and that ‘nothing new had emerged.’ However, the rejection remained.

When Persson requested documents that could explain the decision, he was told that no such documents existed and that the Armed Forces did not intend to further comment on his case.

I have previously been employed by the Armed Forces, have an approved security clearance, but the Home Guard refuses to accept me – without providing any reason whatsoever.

The SD politician also expresses surprise at the timing and circumstances, especially considering that both the government and the authorities are warning of a deteriorating security situation in our vicinity.

Everything just becomes very strange considering the security situation and the fact that the Armed Forces need all the soldiers they can get, especially those willing to return after a long hiatus.

He does not want to speculate on the actual reason for the rejection, although he says he has an idea of why they chose to exclude him. At the end of his story, he emphasizes that he is both experienced and motivated.

What I do know is that I am trained, motivated, and want to do what I can to defend my country. A natural Home Guard soldier in my eyes, but apparently not according to the Home Guard.

Montage by Samnytt. Photo: Jens Åkerlund / Armed Forces / Facsimile Pontus Persson X

Richard Jomshof testifies to a similar experience

SD leader Richard Jomshof has also joined the discussion and shared his experiences. He writes that the cause cannot be known for certain, but that party colleague Pontus Persson’s situation gives reason for speculation.

Now we do not know if that is the case, but considering what Pontus has been through, that guess is close at hand. In my email response, which I received at the same time as I was notified that I had been reported for ‘incitement to racial hatred’ (although never convicted), the following was stated: ‘Being a Home Guard soldier places special demands on you as a person. Based on the information you have provided, we have assessed that you do not have the prerequisites required to be accepted.’

Jomshof emphasizes that he himself has a long background in the Armed Forces and politics. Despite having completed national service and served several years in the War Delegation, still being elected to Sweden’s highest decision-making body, he was informed that he was not fit to defend the local area.

On X, the discussion continued where a person asked Pontus Persson if he has any idea what this is due to. He does not know, but can only speculate. SD leader Richard Jomshof then adds that he feels the same way. According to the SD leader, it is likely a case of political discrimination.

‘Got an email a year ago that my application was terminated. Damn strange if you ask me, but it is probably a case of political discrimination in both instances,’ Jomshof writes among other things.

The Home Guard denies extremists

In 2022, Samnytt reported that 30-year-old engineer Evelina Hahne in Stockholm was prevented from joining the Home Guard. The reason was that she was accused of having the wrong values and therefore is not allowed to be active within the Armed Forces.

Evelina’s husband, William Hahne, was until a few years ago a leading representative for Alternative for Sweden (AfS), but resigned from all his positions in the party. Evelina herself has never held any formal position or trust within AfS, but she suspected that his political background may have influenced an overall assessment that led to the decision to terminate her recruitment.

– I do not know, I can only speculate since they do not want to answer, Hahne told Samnytt at the time.

Samnytt then interviewed Colonel Thomas Karlsson, head of the Middle Military Region, who explained that those interested in joining the Armed Forces should familiarize themselves with the values to determine if it is even worth applying.

According to him, it is possible to be denied if there are extremes where it is seen that the values do not correspond with those of the Armed Forces. When referring to extremes, Thomas Karlsson told Samnytt that he meant ‘extremists’.

– The values may not correspond with one’s own, said Thomas Karlsson at the time.

Colonel Thomas Karlsson. Photo: Annika Gabestad / Armed Forces

The colonel also expanded on his reasoning regarding the agency’s values in Evelina’s case.

– The Armed Forces’ values are comprehensive when it comes to sexual orientation, ethnic groups, and so on. Then there may be expressions in this party that do not meet the value criteria that we are based on, said Thomas Karlsson and continued:

– There is no sharp line, it’s all about an assessment.

So, the Armed Forces’ values are comprehensive and there is no sharp line, but rather an ‘assessment’ that an individual officer can arbitrarily make decisions about based on their own opinions for the day.

Samnytt has once again contacted the Home Guard to get answers as to why several SD sympathizers testify that their applications are being denied, despite their experience and the deteriorating security situation often referred to by both the government and the authorities.