Susanne Nyström: The Left Party's lousy defense does not hold

Halimo Nuur Bashir Abdi is not just a leftist cruise missile. She is also a new municipal councilor in Sweden's third largest city.

Now Expressen reveals that she has made shares in social media, which spread conspiracy theories and question Western democracy. It claims, for example, that the world is ruled by "satanic pedophiles". And in connection with the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, she placed the blame on Israel (6/11).

It is therefore not surprising that both the Jewish congregation in Malmö and the Jewish Central Council react. Namely, Halimo Nuur Bashir Abdi is not just any new municipal councillor, even if the actions had of course been extremely serious regardless of portfolio. But now she is responsible for functional support and human rights - which includes, among other things, work against discrimination and anti-Semitism.

If she is to continue holding the position at all, she has a lot of explaining to do. And that also applies to the Left Party in general.

Because this is far from the first time a V representative has been caught spreading dung. On the contrary, reporting in the same style has been a sequel in recent years.

To gain that kind of trust, raising your hand is not enough

Before the election, as many as 30 candidates were struck off V's lists, following revelations that they had expressed support for terror, anti-Semitism and dictators. Even before that, similar events had been in focus. And recently Aftonbladet reported that member of parliament Mohamed Ali, whose short political career has been turbulent to say the least, wrote a conspiracy theory tweet two days after October 7: in it he said that the Mossad, CIA and MI6 knew about Hamas attacks - and that Israel wants to look like a victim before the coming war they have sought (5/11).

Now group leader Samuel Gonzalez Westling emphasizes, referring to Mohamed Ali, that "conspiracy theories do not belong in V". And party leader Nooshi Dadgostar has declared that anti-Semitism has no place with them (DN 3/9 2024).

If the statements are to be anything more than words, it is up to the evidence. For the defense that deputy party leader Ida Gabrielsson has used - that "it is extremely difficult to keep track of all the thousands of candidates" and that basically everyone who "raises their hand" locally can participate - does not hold.

Halimo Nuur Bashir Abdi has been a member of the technical committee in Malmö during the past mandate period and thus recently became a new municipal councilor in the city. To gain that kind of trust, raising your hand is not enough.

Not even in the Left Party.

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