There are many Palestinian shawls in the security room at Stockholm District Court – both among the defendants and among the relatively large audience present.
Four Palestinian protesters – three men and one woman – are facing trial for harassment after a high-profile meeting with Moderate Party minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin last year.
It was on the evening of September 8 that the group of protesters followed and shouted slogans at Bohlin after he left a gathering at Mynttorget in Stockholm.
"Shame on you", "blood on your hands" and "child murderer" were some of the words the minister endured during his walk around a block in the Old Town.
"Stone in the back of the head?"
In court, Bohlin testified that he was offended.
I was shouted at with vulgar and grotesque words. It is a grotesque accusation aimed at dehumanizing us as elected representatives.
Bohlin said he was used to debating political opponents, but that this was different.
I've never experienced physical persecution when outnumbered before. What's the next thing that's going to happen to me, will I get a rock in the back of my head, will someone pull out a knife?
"Like animals"
The defendants claim that they have only expressed political opinions, as at any demonstration. The meeting between the government and the protesters also took place shortly after a permitted demonstration at Mynttorget.
"This government has tried to smear the movement that stands against genocide. They have portrayed us as animals. Then it is our duty to continue demonstrating," says one of the defendants.
The fact that Carl-Oskar Bohlin did not report the incident directly and instead spent the evening posting film clips from the incident on social media also means the incident should be seen in a political context, the defense claims.
"This day was linked to a research report that 50,000 children had died in Palestine and there is a perception that the government's policy is inadequate. I think you can understand that there are strong feelings from those affected by these war crimes," says lawyer Silas Aliki, who represents one of the defendants.
