The terminated sponsorship agreement is a direct consequence of booking Yasin, says Peter Juneblad. He describes the work to counteract gang formation and recruitment to criminal gangs as "extremely important" for Umeå municipality.
The municipality has previously sponsored the festival with 450,000 kronor. The money will now instead be used for security-enhancing measures around the festival area.
Nine years ago
Peter Arkhult, CEO of Homerun festivals, which organizes Brännbollsyran, says to TT that it is up to "the municipality to answer how they reason around support", but that the festival has not considered canceling Yasin's booking.
No, it has not been relevant. And the municipality invests the same amount in the festival as before.
Yasin, who is one of Sweden's most popular rappers, has previously been sentenced to prison for preparation for human trafficking and for aggravated weapons offenses. This summer, he is booked for his first live performances in nine years, in addition to Umeå also in Borlänge and Kristianstad.
Criticism in other cities
The booking of Yasin has also received criticism in the other cities where he will perform this summer. Pierre Månsson (The Liberals), former municipal councilor in Kristianstad, describes Yasin as "a poster boy for gang crime".
I am the first to agree that when one has served their sentence, they should be able to move on. The problem with Yasin is that he in all respects capitalizes on gang crime, said Månsson to SVT in February, referring to posts made by the rapper on his social media.
Brännbollsyran has been organized in Umeå since 1974. This year's festival takes place on May 28-31.
