Swedish National TV Under Fire for 'Hushing Up' Details of Hikers' Brutal Murder EUROPE
10:06 26.12.2018(updated 12:40 26.12.2018)Get short URL 11486
Not only did the state broadcaster run an article claiming that the bestial murder of two Scandinavian girls in Morocco "had nothing to do with Islam", but it also put the emphasis on the fact that sharing the graphic video of the killing is illegal, while downplaying the sheer brutality of the murder itself, many viewers complained.
Swedish national broadcaster SVT has come under a storm of criticism for its coverage of the double murder of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen (24) and Maren Ueland (28) by Islamists in Morocco.
Many viewers complained that the state broadcaster was more concerned by the video of the killing being spread than the grisly murders themselves. While one of the victims was decapitated alive in the style of Daesh* executions, SVT didn't mention the beheading at all, instead merely reporting about "neck wounds".
The clip is so brutal that many people who have watched it admit to it having a deep impact and regret having ever played it.
"Happened to watch the movie clip that is being circulated. The one where one of them gets her head cut off. I wish I could unsee it. I've seen many horrible things. For a while I felt a responsibility as a journalist to see the movie clips that Daesh (and AQ*) released. Still, this was much worse. It is the worst I have ever seen. It will haunt me", Svenska Dagbladet columnist Ivar Arpi wrote on his Facebook page, calling the murderers "beasts".
SVT, however, chose another angle, warning fellow Swedes not to share the graphic clip, informing that violation of the law may be punished with up to four years' imprisonment.
"We have got very good legislation in place called unlawful infringement. This law is aimed at just this kind of case when someone spreads information or images of somebody in a vulnerable position", former prosecutor Sven-Erik Alhem told SVT.
Previously, SVT also ran a report from a memorial ceremony in Marrakesh condemning the murders. In the clip, an anonymous woman claimed that the victims "could have been anyone", with another person stressing that "This is not Islam" and "has nothing to do with it".
SVT's coverage triggered outrage on social media, where users found its focus greatly misplaced.
"To sum up SVT's coverage of the Muslim terrorist attack in Morocco and Daesh 'warriors': 1) You'll be sent to prison if you spread the beheading film, you racist Nazi! 2) Daesh warriors have returned home to Sweden 3) They died of knife wounds, sort of 4) The murder in Morocco has nothing to do with Islam!" a user wryly commented.
