The government's reported plans to ban the traditional runic alphabet alongside heathen imagery, due to their alleged popularity in Neo-Nazi circles, have sparked the ire of politicians and ordinary Swedes alike.
The government is currently investigating the possibility of banning the use of old Norse runes, the Swedish news outlet Samhällsnytt reported.
The background to the investigation, lobbied by Social Democrat Justice Minister Morgan Johansson, is the Swedish neo-Nazis' alleged predilection with the runic script, despite the fact that it predates the spread of neo-Nazi ideology by a thousand years.
According to the government proposal, ancient Norse symbols, imagery, and traditional jewellery can also be banned as "incitement of ethnic hatred". This applies, among other things, to Thor's Hammer known as Mjölner, the Valknut (or Odin's knot) and the magical stave Vegvisir.
The government's "one cure fits all" approach has enraged neo-pagans, who adhere to the ancient Nordic religion known as Asatru, and history enthusiasts, who believe that Viking culture is an inherent part of Scandinavian heritage.
Banning an entire written language restricts the freedom of religion, which is backed by the Swedish Constitution and international conventions, they argued. Additionally, by adding contrived meaning to the runic script, the government is making the same mistake as the Nazis, who widely utilised Nordic imagery.
"Our attitude is that prejudices and misunderstandings are best cured with knowledge and facts. It is not okay to try and replace the meaning of our symbols with one's own prejudices or political meaning they completely lack. Banning them would wipe out a part of our own history, culture and beliefs — and our freedom of expression because of political interpretations that do not belong in the Asa community", the Swedish Asa Society wrote on its website.
READ MORE: In Thor We Trust: Swedes Revive 'Back to the Roots' Viking Heathenry
According to them, a culture that is tied with the first settlers' footprints in the North, cannot be destroyed.
In protest against the government's plans, the Asa Society has started a campaign under the motto "Don't touch our runes". The "Battle of Runes" campaign has gathered almost 10,000 signatures.
On Friday, 24 May, a manifestation outside of the House of Parliament will be held.
The government's plans have also come under fire on social media, where Swedes stood up in defence of the rune.
"So, the government wants to ban runic writing. Well, will they destroy the Rök Stone outside Vadstena and several other priceless rune stones from the Viking Age? A more anti-history government is indeed hard to find", a Swede wrote.
Our government advocates multiculturalism, but we are not entitled to have a culture of our own. What the government is now doing is trying to censor our own cultural heritage and erase our roots. Fifth column", Jeff Ahl of the right-wing party Alternative for Sweden tweeted, pledging to wear Thor's hammer "in a really visible way”.
https://sputniknews.com/europe/20190522 ... n-outrage/
https://www.eturbonews.com/252771/swedi ... upid-idea/
https://www.rt.com/news/459997-sweden-rune-ban-nazis/
So… the Swedish Parliament is considering banning Norse runes since they promote “Nazism” and “Hate speech.” What do you think NSG?
I think this is stupid, really really stupid, even stupid for far left parties. Runes predate Nazism itself by centuries, so I don’t see what banning them would do then erase Nordic history. Sweden claims runes like ᛏ (tyr) and ᛪ (x) symbolize hate speech and nazism because a few far right groups use them in symbolism, so now they want to ban all runes and a large part of Nordic history just to protect “minority’s feelings.” This is just really stupid, nothing more I can say…