Unacceptable pressure on press freedom

The daily Svenska Dagbladet comments on a controversial article in the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet in which journalist Donald Boström claimed - without supporting evidence - that Israeli soldiers killed Palestinians to steal their organs: "After Åsa Linderborg (Aftonbladet's chief cultural editor) gave the green light for the publication of Boström's article official Israel and official Sweden are at loggerheads with each other. Israel's deputy foreign minister has demanded that Sweden's government condemn the article. Sweden's ambassador to Israel, Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier, criticises Aftonbladet on the embassy's homepage. In both cases we are witnessing unacceptable pressure on a free publication that is protected by Sweden's freedom of expression. Aftonbladet's editor-in-chief Jan Helin reacted appropriately and demanded and received an explanation from Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. … Now it is up to Helin to decide whether keeping on Åsa Linderborg as chief cultural editor is reconcilable with Aftonbladet's self-image and journalistic mission."

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