{"id":174401,"date":"2026-07-19T11:07:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T09:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/?p=174401"},"modified":"2026-07-19T11:07:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T09:07:29","slug":"benjamin-dousa-rasar-nar-sd-namner-etniska-svenskar-ett-sjukt-tabu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/benjamin-dousa-is-furious-when-the-sd-refers-to-ethnic-swedes-as-a-sick-taboo\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Dousa is furious when the Sweden Democrats mention \u201dethnic Swedes\u201d\u2014a sick taboo"},"content":{"rendered":"<pre class=\"wp-block-verse\">This is an analytical news article in which the writer's own analysis is part of the news coverage.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When the Sweden Democrats mention \u201dethnic Swedes,\u201d it suddenly becomes a major problem. Benjamin Dousa flew into a rage and accused the party of focusing on skin color, while at the same time running away from the camera in Almedalen when asked whether \u201cethnic Swedes\u201d exist. This reveals a perverse taboo: talking about the decline of the ethnically Swedish population is seen as malicious\u2014while the same line of reasoning from other ethnic groups is accepted without issue.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2013 We have far too many people who are not part of the ethnically Swedish population, and that has caused enormous problems<\/em>, said the Sweden Democrats' spokesperson on migration policy <strong>Ludvig Aspling<\/strong> to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.etc.se\/inrikes\/haarda-tidoekritiken-mot-sd-inget-med-etnicitet-att-goera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Today's ETC<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Aspling said this, the Moderate Party\u2019s Minister for International Development Cooperation <strong>Benjamin Dousa<\/strong> furious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dousa accused the Sweden Democrats of focusing on \u201dethnicity, hair color, and skin color\u201d and argued that integration problems \u201dhave nothing to do with ethnicity.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2013 Personally, I feel pretty marginalized. I have roots in many parts of the world, and ethnically speaking, there isn\u2019t much that\u2019s Swedish about me at all, but I feel 100 percent Swedish.<\/em>, \", he told Dagens ETC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several other ministers in the Tid\u00f6 government quickly distanced themselves from using the term \u201dethnic Swedes\u201d at all.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Ludvig Aspling\" class=\"wp-image-42826 lazyload\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7499961852445258;width:202px;height:auto\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Ludvig Aspling\" class=\"wp-image-42826\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7499961852445258;width:202px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-150x200.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-300x400.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-696x928.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-1068x1424.jpeg 1068w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/0526748040023_max.jpeg 1825w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ludvig Aspling. Photo: The Swedish Parliament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Sick Taboo<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is most striking is how strong and emotional the reaction becomes as soon as someone mentions \u201dethnic Swedes\u201d in a critical context. Mere mention of the fact that the ethnically Swedish population is declining as a proportion of Sweden\u2019s total population is suddenly portrayed as something evil and malicious. Simply using the term is enough to be accused of racism or far-right rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a deeply disturbing aspect of the Swedish public debate. The majority population is not allowed to describe its own demographic and cultural situation on the same terms as other groups are permitted to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Almedalen Broke the Taboo<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During Almedalen Week, Frihetsnytt asked politicians, ministers, and other decision-makers whether \u201cethnic Swedes\u201d exist and whether a population replacement is taking place in Sweden. Almost all of them refused to answer or denied that \u201cethnic Swedes\u201d exist as a concept. Several literally ran away from the camera when the question was asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of those who refused to answer and instead ran away was Benjamin Dousa. When I asked the question about ethnic Swedes and population replacement, Dousa chose not to answer but instead left the scene, which is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gTmW5lhbp-g\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gTmW5lhbp-g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CLICK HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is telling. When the question is asked point-blank\u2014do \u201cethnic Swedes\u201d exist, and is a demographic shift underway in which they are gradually becoming a minority in their own country?\u2014many politicians choose to evade the issue rather than answer. This shows just how strong the taboo is.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc.jpg\" alt=\"Ethnic Swedes. Photo: Envato\" class=\"wp-image-123709 lazyload\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.00202725883417;width:374px;height:auto\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1003\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc.jpg\" alt=\"Ethnic Swedes. Photo: Envato\" class=\"wp-image-123709\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.00202725883417;width:374px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc.jpg 1003w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc-150x75.jpg 150w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc-696x348.jpg 696w, https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/family-enjoying-a-sunny-day-in-the-backyard-with-p-2024-07-10-01-20-27-utc-600x300.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ethnic Swedes. Photo: Envato<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The double standard is obvious<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine if Jews were to say that the Jewish population is at risk of being \u201dreplaced\u201d due to high immigration and low birth rates, and that this threatens Jewish identity. Would the reaction then be that they are evil and mean? No. It would be seen as a legitimate concern for the survival of a people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine if the S\u00e1mi were to say that they are being displaced in their traditional territories by the influx of non-S\u00e1mi. That would likely be called a legitimate indigenous concern and an important debate about cultural survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine if Somalis or other groups were to say that their ethnic community is at risk of being weakened or replaced. That would be seen as an expression of cultural self-preservation\u2014not as racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But when ethnic Swedes do the same thing, it suddenly becomes a moral problem. This is a clear case of double standards. Either it is legitimate for all ethnic groups to care about their own demographic and cultural continuity, or it is not legitimate for any of them. To claim that one is \u201dgood\u201d and the other is \u201cevil\u201d is not only inconsistent\u2014it is sickening, and in many ways, it is deeply racist toward Swedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This creates a climate of debate in which ethnic Swedes are the only group that cannot speak openly about their own existence as a people without facing social and political repercussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"gTmW5lhbp-g\"><iframe title=\"Development Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa Refuses to Answer When He Realizes Who We Are  - Almedalen\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gTmW5lhbp-g?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dousa lashed out at the Sweden Democrats for their stance on \u201cethnic Swedes\u201d\u2014but sidestepped the issue himself, and the same line of reasoning from Jews or the S\u00e1mi would have been perfectly acceptable<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2017,"featured_media":151709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[206,1520,205,211],"tags":[4942,451,4531,2278],"class_list":["post-174401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-inrikes","category-stor","category-nyheter","category-opinion","tag-benjamin-dousa","tag-etnicitet","tag-ludvig-aspling","tag-svenskar"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2017"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=174401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=174401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=174401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frihetsnytt.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=174401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}