SSU chairperson on scarf with erased Israel: 'A mistake'

SSU’s chairperson Moska Hassas backtracks after a picture of her wearing a Palestinian scarf with Israel ‘erased’. ‘A mistake’, she writes on social media.

It was last Thursday that the Social Democrats, together with several party-related organizations, organized a solidarity demonstration in support of Palestine at Norra Bantorget in Stockholm.

Among the participants were the two former Social Democratic ministers Morgan Johansson and Morgan Strandhäll, the chairman of the municipal council in Solna Sara Kukka-Salam, and SSU chairperson Moska Hassas.

Special Palestinian scarf

During the demonstration, Moska Hassas wore a special Palestinian scarf, adorned with texts such as ‘Palestine’ and ‘Jerusalem is ours’ in Arabic, a picture of the al-Aqsa mosque, and a map where Israel is erased.

This has sparked reactions. One of those reacting is the researcher and debater Daniel Schatz. In a post on X, he wonders if such scarves are considered acceptable within the Social Democrats.

He points out that the text on the scarf is ‘rooted in extremist and Islamist circles’.

‘A mistake’

Now Moska Hassas regrets her choice of scarf during the demonstration. The reason is that it goes against the Social Democrats’ belief in a so-called two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

‘At a demonstration last Thursday, I received a scarf from someone on the spot, and did not see the text on it. I have now been made aware of the text that neither I nor SSU stand behind. Therefore, I want to be clear that this was a mistake’, she writes on X and continues:

‘SSU will always stand up for the two-state solution, and for the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and freedom.’