Swedish student stops Afghan man's deportation by refusing to sit down on a plane
07-25-2018, 04:06 PM
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/swed...on-a-plane
Around the world – from Chicago to Munich to Roskilde, Denmark – airports have become centers of political protest over deportations. Activists have blocked airport entrances, demonstrated outside terminal fences, and even stormed a runway in attempts to stop flights carrying deportees.
This week, one Swedish student tried a different approach.
When Elin Ersson learned that an Afghan man was scheduled to be deported from Sweden on Monday, she bought a ticket for the same flight. Once she boarded the plane at Gothenburg airport, Ersson refused to take her seat, standing in the aisle, until the 52-year-old deportee was released.
Her dramatic act of civil disobedience, which she live-streamed on Facebook in English, forced the flight to be delayed by two hours, according to Swedavia, the company that operates the airport. Ultimately, her efforts succeeded – at least for the time being. The Afghan deportee was escorted off the plane before it took off.
“I’m not going to sit down until this person is off the plane,” Ersson said on the Facebook live video, which has now been viewed more than 2 million times. “The pilot has the right to say that he is not allowed to be on the plane.”
If I was running the Swedish government I'd revoke her citizenship and get this SJW a one way ticket to Kabul.
Around the world – from Chicago to Munich to Roskilde, Denmark – airports have become centers of political protest over deportations. Activists have blocked airport entrances, demonstrated outside terminal fences, and even stormed a runway in attempts to stop flights carrying deportees.
This week, one Swedish student tried a different approach.
When Elin Ersson learned that an Afghan man was scheduled to be deported from Sweden on Monday, she bought a ticket for the same flight. Once she boarded the plane at Gothenburg airport, Ersson refused to take her seat, standing in the aisle, until the 52-year-old deportee was released.
Her dramatic act of civil disobedience, which she live-streamed on Facebook in English, forced the flight to be delayed by two hours, according to Swedavia, the company that operates the airport. Ultimately, her efforts succeeded – at least for the time being. The Afghan deportee was escorted off the plane before it took off.
“I’m not going to sit down until this person is off the plane,” Ersson said on the Facebook live video, which has now been viewed more than 2 million times. “The pilot has the right to say that he is not allowed to be on the plane.”
If I was running the Swedish government I'd revoke her citizenship and get this SJW a one way ticket to Kabul.