After the ”Quisling” controversy—Anders Lindberg now mocks the ”offended” police

Just days after Anders Lindberg found himself at the center of the ”Quisling” controversy, a new post is sparking strong reactions. Now, Aftonbladet’s political editor-in-chief is being accused of applying a double standard after sharing a derisive editorial about a police officer who was subjected to severe verbal abuse.

Aftonbladet's political editor-in-chief Anders Lindberg shared on Friday morning, an editorial in Aftonbladet with the headline ”Police officer offended by ’horsnut’: sues 15-year-old.” The article was written by Zina Al-Dewany and mocks the alleged abuse by the police while at the same time criticizing the law on insulting a public official.

The editorial is about a 15-year-old who called a police officer, among other things, a ”bastard” and a ”whore’s son.” Aftonbladet questions the police’s actions and describes other reports of insults as ”almost laughable.”.

”What if the 15-year-old had said ’Quisling’?”

The contrast with this week’s heated ”Quisling” debate did not go unnoticed by X users. John Frings commented on Lindberg's post:

”What if the 15-year-old had said ”Quisling”? Oh my, oh my, oh my—that would have been a serious insult.”

Elias Vayden were on the same page and directed their criticism directly at Lindberg:

”You know exactly what I’m talking about—you, who are offended at being called a ”Quisling’ even though you call others that yourself!”

Accused of double standards

Several other users pointed out the timing of Lindberg’s post. The criticism centers on the fact that just days ago, Aftonbladet treated Richard Jomshof’s ”Quisling” epithet as a serious political issue, while the editorial page is now being ironic about a police officer who reacted to insults.

David Lindmark summarizes The criticism:

”You’re called a Quissling and feel so offended that you launch a media smear campaign. A female police officer is called a ”cop whore,’ and you think she should just take it.”