# Israel shocked at Swedish tabloid's freedom of speech **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 21, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198 "2009-08-21T14:09:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/181 "2009-08-25T17:12:54Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > The hallmark of the urban myth is that the accusation is based on rumour and innuendo, and alleges a vast and malevolent conspiracy in which the conspirators are both fiendishly clever _and_ moronically stupid at the same time (thus explaining why the discoverer is in a position to blow the whistle on them). The objects of the conspiracy are often counter-intuitive (harvesting organs from guys shot to death with military weapons in random fire-fights? Unlikely - would involve a large number of persons from Israeli soldiers through medical personnel all involved in the conspiracy, any one of whom could talk, all for rather dubious benefits). I was under the impression that the original article was alleging a conspiracy on a much smaller scale- say, one colonel telling his officers to scavenge some body parts. Certainly not the whole IDF. Did I misunderstand? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/182 "2009-08-25T17:18:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I was under the impression that the original article was alleging a conspiracy on a much smaller scale- say, one colonel telling his officers to scavenge some body parts. Certainly not the whole IDF. > > Did I misunderstand? [Here’s a translation of the article.](http://www.israel-palestinenews.org/2009/08/farwana-all-facts-on-ground-prove.html) I posted this upthread: the author suggests the the Israeli army, health officials, and big hospitals and doctors are all involved in this. He casts a very, very broad net. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/183 "2009-08-25T17:20:09Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I was under the impression that the original article was alleging a conspiracy on a much smaller scale- say, one colonel telling his officers to scavenge some body parts. Certainly not the whole IDF. > > Did I misunderstand? Not my impression when reading the article. Its conclusions: > [@](#): > > We know that Israel has a great need for organs, that there is a vast and illegal trade of organs which has been running for many years now, that the authorities are aware of it and that doctors in managing positions at the big hospitals participate, as well as civil servants at various levels. We also know that young Palestinian men disappeared, that they were brought back after five days, at night, under tremendous secrecy, stitched back together after having been cut from abdomen to chin. > > It’s time to bring clarity to this macabre business, to shed light on what is going on and what has taken place in the territories occupied by Israel since the Intifada began. The innuendo is that all levels of Israeli society are colluding in the practice and that it is regular. Moreover, in the article the author claims UN officials know about it but are intimidated by Israel into silence. > [@](#): > > On several occasions I was approached by UN staff concerned about the developments. The persons contacting me said that organ theft definitely occurred but that they were prevented from doing anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/184 "2009-08-25T17:27:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And it’s because they are Jews that they are being accused of stealing organs from Muslims. No. There is not one shred of evidence to support this contention. > [@Marley23](#): > > Is there a historical blood libel against Chinese or Russian people? If so, go ahead and say they’re part of a traditional falsehood in the same kind of way. Until then it looks like simple xenophobic stupidity instead of being part of a very old myth that may actually have harmed people. No, there isn’t a history of blood libel against those peoples which proves my point that organ snatching and blood libel accusations aren’t related. The accusation of nefariously taking organs for transplant is widespread and has been targeted against every race, ethnicity, and religion in the world. There is no reason to believe and no evidence to support the contention that an accusation that Israeli is taking organs from Palestinians has anything to do with historic blood libels. > [@Marley23](#): > > Not true at all, and also totally irrelevant to the topic we’re discussing. It’s perfectly relevant. Your position is essentially that I can accuse China, France, Argentina, India, Australia, etc. of stealing organs without being considered racist. If I accuse Israel of doing the same thing then it becomes an antisemitic slander. It is a double standard that has no logical basis. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/185 "2009-08-25T17:36:14Z")
> [@treis](#): > > No. There is not one shred of evidence to support this contention. Aside from the fact that it’s obviously true, and has been made in other antisemitic media (see my first post). > [@](#): > > No, there isn’t a history of blood libel against those peoples which proves my point that organ snatching and blood libel accusations aren’t related. It proves that this accusation can exist independently of a historic blood libel. It does not prove they’re not related in this instance. > [@](#): > > The accusation of nefariously taking organs for transplant is widespread and has been targeted against every race, ethnicity, and religion in the world. This is pure BS. You provided two alleged examples (and I’ll take them at face value) and then jump to “everyone gets accused of this?” I think not. > [@](#): > > Your position is essentially that I can accuse China, France, Argentina, India, Australia, etc. of stealing organs without being considered racist. This is a classic case of using the word “essentially” as a smoke screen that allows you to pretend I said something I didn’t say, and then ascribe a motive based on a fictional comment. 😉 I have said nothing of the kind, I believe nothing of the kind, it’s a crap argument, and it’s irrelevant to this topic. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/186 "2009-08-25T18:00:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Aside from the fact that it’s obviously true, and has been made in other antisemitic media (see my first post). I am interested in your ability to determine that things are obviously true without any evidence and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. > [@Marley23](#): > > It proves that this accusation can exist independently of a historic blood libel. It does not prove they’re not related in this instance. It is impossible to prove that they are not related. However, there are two strong pieces of evidence in my favor. (1) Blood libels relate to using humans in religious rituals. Harvesting organs for transplant has nothing to do with religion, which makes the two accusations fundamentally different. (2) The accusation of stealing organs is made against many people for divergent ethnicities. Thus there is no reason to believe that Jews are being specifically targeted. Against that you’ve offered, well, your contention that it is related with little argument to back it up. > [@Marley23](#): > > This is pure BS. You provided two alleged examples (and I’ll take them at face value) and then jump to “everyone gets accused of this?” I think not. [American beaten by Guatemalans for stealing organs from kids](http://tafkac.org/medical/organ.theft/baby.parts/guatemalan_baby_snatchers.html) [Ser bians/Russians accused of stealing organs](http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/russians-bought-organs-of-slaughtered-kosovar-albanians/) [Foreigners stealing organs from indiginous tribes in Brazil](http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200608/01/eng20060801_288826.html) > [@Marley23](#): > > This is a classic case of using the word “essentially” as a smoke screen that allows you to pretend I said something I didn’t say, and then ascribe a motive based on a fictional comment. 😉 I have said nothing of the kind, I believe nothing of the kind, it’s a crap argument, and it’s irrelevant to this topic. The Chinese army, doctors, and goverment are conspiring to steal organs from political prisoners. Racist or not? The Israeli army, doctors, and government are conspiring to steal organs from captured Palestinians. Antisemitic or not? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/187 "2009-08-25T18:11:19Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > An interesting curiosity that isn’t really relevant, is that the Bonnier family…are the giant media business group in Sweden ([Bonnier group](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnier_Group)) > > And they are Jewish 😃 How very _interesting_ and _curious_ that you should bring that up. :dubious: I agree with you about the lack of relevancy. It’s been an education reading your posts. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/188 "2009-08-25T18:40:18Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > ttp: [//www.stormfront.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-21815.html](https://www.stormfront.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-21815.html) There is no rule aghainst linking to other message boards and no infraction is considered, here. However, in the interest of not providing a trail of hyperlinks that might invite some sort of “retaliatory” posts, I have severed the link in the post. Feel free to check out the point that Malthus was making, but do not do so in a way that might invite any jerks (on either board) from contemplating a board war. [/modding] ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/189 "2009-08-25T18:44:43Z")
> [@treis](#): > > [American beaten by Guatemalans for stealing organs from kids](http://tafkac.org/medical/organ.theft/baby.parts/guatemalan_baby_snatchers.html) > [Ser bians/Russians accused of stealing organs](http://larussophobe.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/russians-bought-organs-of-slaughtered-kosovar-albanians/) > [Foreigners stealing organs from indiginous tribes in Brazil](http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200608/01/eng20060801_288826.html) - [“KLA sold Kosovo Serb organs in Albania”](http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=03&dd=21&nav_id=48671) It was part of the plot in the Turkish movie: Valley of the Wolves Iraq. Haven’t seen it so I can’t comment on the Jewish side. It was also the plot of the latest X-Files movie (where the perpetrators were Russians) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/190 "2009-08-25T18:51:41Z")
Okay, that’s pretty fuckin’ crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/191 "2009-08-25T18:59:55Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I am interested in your ability to determine that things are obviously true without any evidence and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. I think a knowledge of history and some common sense do count as evidence, but we’ll agree to disagree about that. > [@](#): > > However, there are two strong pieces of evidence in my favor. (1) Blood libels relate to using humans in religious rituals. Harvesting organs for transplant has nothing to do with religion, which makes the two accusations fundamentally different. I think it’s odd that you’ve focused on this, rather than the fact that both are supposed to be perpetrated on non-Jews by Jews, and both relate murder of gentiles and the consumption of their bodies, and as a result, manifest the idea of Jews as predatory outsiders. But, sure, one involves religious rituals and the other doesn’t. You found a difference. Another is, the organ donation one doesn’t involve blood at all, just internal organs. 😛 > [@](#): > > (2) The accusation of stealing organs is made against many people for divergent ethnicities. Now that you’ve provided other links, this is a stronger argument. So maybe you are right that this is a pretty common urban legend that features “powerful” outsiders preying on the natives. This still places the organ donation story in that continuum since Israel is seen as a country of outsiders in the predominantly Muslim Middle East, and in this story, they are feeding off Palestinians in the same way Jews were supposed to have preyed on Christian children in the Middle Ages. > [@](#): > > The Chinese army, doctors, and goverment are conspiring to steal organs from political prisoners. Racist or not? Certainly could be. > [@](#): > > The Israeli army, doctors, and government are conspiring to steal organs from captured Palestinians. Antisemitic or not? Based on history, yes. My point initially was that Israel’s harsh response to this story isn’t surprising because people have been saying this about Jews for so long to the point where a significant number of idiots might actually believe it. (I still think the criticism of the Swedish government itself was stupid.) ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/192 "2009-08-25T19:32:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think a knowledge of history and some common sense do count as evidence, but we’ll agree to disagree about that. Ah so that’s how you know stuff is true without evidence. A neat trick. > [@Marley23](#): > > I think it’s odd that you’ve focused on this, rather than the fact that both are supposed to be perpetrated on non-Jews by Jews, This isn’t a fundamental requirement for either accusation. Blood libels have been issued against Christians, Wiccans, and most likely many other groups over the course of history. It is true in this case that Jews are acting against non-Jews, but that isn’t a fundamental part of either accusation. > [@Marley23](#): > > and both relate murder of gentiles and the consumption of their bodies, and as a result, manifest the idea of Jews as predatory outsiders. But, sure, one involves religious rituals and the other doesn’t. You found a difference. Another is, the organ donation one doesn’t involve blood at all, just internal organs. 😛 I didn’t find “a” difference, I found a major difference. Accusing Jews of killing people to use in their religious rituals impugns all Jews and Judaism itself. On the other hand, accusing Israelis of stealing organs attacks only those directly involved in that act. One slanders an entire people and religion, while the other targets responsible individuals. You still have shown no causal link between these two accusations. There is no indication that the author of this article said to himself, “Self, blood libels worked great in the middle ages, how can I update them for modern times?”. All he seems to have done is misinterpret some things he has seen and applied a common modern urban legend. The fleeting similarity between organ snatching and blood libels is nothing more than a coincidence. Although I have to say your little bullshit smiley makes your case very convincing. > [@Marley23](#): > > Certainly could be. > Based on history, yes. My point initially was that Israel’s harsh response to this story isn’t surprising because people have been saying this about Jews for so long to the point where a significant number of idiots might actually believe it. (I still think the criticism of the Swedish government itself was stupid.) You have established a double standard for which there is no basis in reality. According to you I can accuse Chinese people of something without being a racist, but it is impossible for me to make that same accusation against Israel without being anti-semetic. This is blatantly unfair and poisons the debate since those who wish to argue against Israel are labeled antisemites. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/193 "2009-08-25T19:51:48Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > The innuendo is that all levels of Israeli society are colluding in the practice and that it is regular. How is it innuendo if Boström backs that claim up with evidence earlier in the article? He states that Israel has been routinely purchasing organs illegally from Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, citing an article in another, much more reputable Swedish paper which in turn cites a report in _Ha’aretz_. He also points out that because of this, France stopped collaborating with Israel on organ transplants in the 1990s, and that the Jerusalem _Post_ stated that more European countries were expected to follow suit. Two paper trails back to Israel itself. He then relates an event he himself was witness to, and that the family of the deceased (as well as other families he interviewed) have questions that haven’t yet been answered. Given that we _know_, and Israeli doctors _admit_, that they are involved in a medical black market, how could it possibly be an illogical stretch for Boström to wonder if there is a further connection with what he witnessed? ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/194 "2009-08-25T19:54:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Here’s a translation of the article.](http://www.israel-palestinenews.org/2009/08/farwana-all-facts-on-ground-prove.html) I posted this upthread: the author suggests the the Israeli army, health officials, and big hospitals and doctors are all involved in this. He casts a very, very broad net. I can’t seem to see who did the translation. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/195 "2009-08-25T19:59:50Z")
Interestingly there is a [history](http://www.jesus21.com/index.php?s=default)of the blood libel being used against the Chinese by the Christian Right in the form of allegations of the Chinese eating aborted fetuses. What’s worse Republican politicians apparently got in the act fanning those allegations. > [@](#): > > The rumors of Chinese fetus-eating were swallowed by the most gullible members of Congress, including Representatives Frank Wolf (R-Virginia), Chris Smith (R-New Jersey, Co-Chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), and Mark Souder (R-Indiana). (The website seems to be a Christian left website ; the article appears quite well-researched. This Snopes [article](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/cannibal/fetus.asp)refers to the same allegations) IMO that’s a **lot** worse than the Swedish case where it’s only a newspaper article and in any case the allegations are very different from the classic blood libel (and I am not even sure the newspaper strongly pushes the allegations). Overall while I am skeptical of the allegations themselves the whole incident is much ado about nothing IMO and the demand for condemnations from the Swedish government are pretty ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/196 "2009-08-25T20:09:29Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I can’t seem to see who did the translation. I didn’t do it, but I work as a translator from Swedish to English and I’ll vouch for the accuracy of the translation. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/197 "2009-08-25T20:14:56Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > I didn’t do it, but I work as a translator from Swedish to English and I’ll vouch for the accuracy of the translation. Thanks. I started cross-checking it to verify the translation, but after the first paragraph I noticed that it would take a while, and therefore abandoned that idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/198 "2009-08-25T20:38:55Z")
[This](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/08/19/israel.sweden.organ.harvesting/index.html)provides some context for the piece: > [@](#): > > The article was an op-ed written by freelance journalist Donald Bostrom, who has traveled to the Middle East numerous times. It was printed in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. > > Bostrom, who spoke to CNN from Stockholm, said he has received several death threats about the opinion piece. > > “What I’m doing in my article is giving a range of examples of very active organ trafficking going on [in Israel],” he said. > > He wrote the piece in reaction to a recently unveiled corruption scandal in New Jersey that allegedly involved the private sale of a kidney from a donor in Israel. > > Bostrom stressed that he has no proof that Israeli soldiers were stealing organs, and that the purpose of his opinion article was to call for an investigation into numerous claims in the 1990s that such activity was going on. I think the fact that it is an op-ed piece is quite relevant. It’s generally accepted that opinion writers have more leeway to speculate and push their personal opinions. That is what he is doing. He is linking his own personal observations and the allegations by Palestinians as told to him with facts about the illegal organ trade in Israel. I don’t find the article convincing but it’s not some kind of crazy hate piece. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/199 "2009-08-25T20:40:41Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > How is it innuendo if Boström backs that claim up with evidence earlier in the article? He states that Israel has been routinely purchasing organs illegally from Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, citing an article in another, much more reputable Swedish paper which in turn cites a report in _Ha’aretz_. He also points out that because of this, France stopped collaborating with Israel on organ transplants in the 1990s, and that the Jerusalem _Post_ stated that more European countries were expected to follow suit. Two paper trails back to Israel itself. > > He then relates an event he himself was witness to, and that the family of the deceased (as well as other families he interviewed) have questions that haven’t yet been answered. Given that we _know_, and Israeli doctors _admit_, that they are involved in a medical black market, how could it possibly be an illogical stretch for Boström to wonder if there is a further connection with what he witnessed? That’s exactly how innuendo works. Take fact A, add supposition B, and voila! The “missing link” of course is the actual accusation - that Israelis have been stealing organs from people its soldiers have killed - is based on no evidence whatsover. It is all innuendo and supposition. It is a far cry from the _actual_ issues (illegal transplants) to the _modern urban mythology_ of murder and ghoulish practices. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198/200 "2009-08-25T20:50:16Z")
Here’s some more trivia about Aftonbladet. It was founded back in 1830 by Lars Johan Hierta, as an independent newspaper, while the king controlled the others though the nobility. It quickly became popular among the people but less so with the king, who the paper criticized in many aspects. They pushed for press freedom, more free trade, better representation, more transparency, etc. The king didn’t like the criticism which had previously been avoided by his control of other papers, so he shut the paper down and banned it. The founder was prepared with extra publication permits in other persons’ names, and changed the name of the paper to “Nya Aftonbladet” (New Aftonbladet), which later became banned as well, so it became “Tredje Aftonbladet” (Third Aftonbladet)… and so on. In 1851 he sold the paper which had at that point changed name 26 times. So both as a politician and publisher, Hierta was an important part of the Swedish modernization reforms. Quite sad to see what it has become :(. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-shocked-at-swedish-tabloids-freedom-of-speech/507198.md?page=11)