Stickers in Sweden Warn ‘Women Without Headscarves Are Asking to Be Raped’

By Brett Chandrasekhar

Signs have been posted publicly in Sweden stating “Women who don’t wear a headscarf are asking to be raped.” These stickers were paired with others advocating that democracy be replaced with Islamic law.

Residents quickly reported the stickers to the police, though they have not yet discovered the persons or groups responsible for them.

Many believe this is the handiwork of Muslim immigrants in the country. Others instead argue that groups opposed to refugees may be posting these notes to spread hatred.

Though knowledge of the culprit is unknown, there are cases in the past where Muslims have made such statements. In Copenhagen, just a few years ago, one Muslim Imam named Shahid Mehedi stated that women who left their homes without hijabs or burkas deserved to be raped. He argued “Women are not entitled to respect when they walk around without a Hijab. They are to blame for it when they are attacked.”

Related: Consequentialist Liberty: Freedom Wins When You Ban The Burka

Anti-immigrant sentiment has drastically risen in recent years in large part due to the influx of refugees from Syria and other nations. The culture clash has created persistent and significant issues in Europe. Just last year on New Year’s Eve, Germany experienced mass rapes, harassment, and robberies of many women celebrating in public.

After the horrible events in Cologne, many stories began to emerge about Sweden’s own problems. In 2014 and 2015, large groups of men sexually harassed women at a musical festival called We Are Sthlm. Police downplayed the harm, but their internal memos later revealed that these attacks occurred to around 40 women and were committed predominantly by refugees.

While opposition to immigrants has its roots in real issues, it is still entirely possible that right wing groups posted these notes in an attempt to frame Muslims. Speculation will only die down once the police finish their investigation or a group takes responsibility.

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