Post date: May 21, 2011 4:36:33 PM
Police out in force as Swedes demonstrate for and against a mosque in the nation's second largest city, Gothenburg.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN (MAY 21, 2011) REUTERS - More than 1,500 people took part in demonstrations for and against a mosque in Gothenburg on Saturday (May 21).
One of the demonstrations was in favour of the newly-built mosque and the other one was against the mosque, located in a suburb of Gothenburg.
The demonstrations converged near the mosque but police, who had expected trouble, largely managed to keep the demonstrators apart.
Thirty-five left-wing demonstrators were temporarily apprehended for disturbing the peace and four were taken into custody.Vice-Chairman of the National Democrats, Daniel Spansk, took part in the demonstration against the mosque which had gathered approximately 150 people.
"We are not okay with alien ethnic groups advancing in their positions. Of course we support a freedom of beliefs but you don't have to build these gigantic cultural centres and mosques just to practice your religion. This thing really wouldn't have to be a problem if we didn't have politicians who continuously let this happen. That different cultures get to build enclaves and symbols on Swedish Christian soil," he said.
A larger crowd had gathered to take part in the demonstration in favour of the mosque.
Among them was 26-year-old demographic geography student Ammer Khorshed.
"We are here simply here to demonstrate against the Nazis. We think that it is wrong to let our streets and squares be taken over by Nazis. We have to rally as many people as possible to demonstrate against racists and Nazis, to push back the racism in our society," he said.
At one stage some demonstrators tried to break the police cordon but were stopped by the police.
It was the largest police presence in the city since 2001 when there were riots during the European Union summit.