Suburb erupts in violence

On June 7, 2010, angry youth took over the streets of Rinkeby, a suburb of Stockholm and home to one of Sweden’s largest immigrant communities.

The mob, identified by police as members of the Rinkeby community, lit several fires and threw bricks and stones at the windows of a school and a local police station. Three people were arrested but later released.

The violence and vandalism began after several youths were denied entrance to a local school dance.

Mariam Osman Sherifay, 56, chair of the Swedish Centre Against Racism (Centrum Mot Rasism) says high unemployment and social exclusion lead to the social unrest that triggered this violence.

She speaks from personal experience. In 1975, when she was still a young girl, she immigrated to Sweden with her family and lived in Rinkeby for her first six years.  Sherifay talks to VITAeurope about her former community and the social implications of discrimination.

What is the current situation in Rinkeby?  

The immediate tension has been defused. The police are patrolling the streets 24-7 and civil society organisations are doing their part. But the real problem is unemployment. Immigrants and refugees make up almost all of the Rinkeby population and many of them don’t work. What’s more, unemployment is a cyclical problem.

Is this high unemployment linked to the economic crisis?

No, unemployment rates have always been higher in Rinkeby than in the rest of the country.

How has the Swedish government reacted?

The government has told parents in the community to keep their kids at home and off the streets. How are they supposed to do that? In my opinion the real solution is to create jobs for these kids.

What can social organisations do?

First we need to create jobs but civil society can set up youth clubs where kids can go hang out with their friends. These clubs are important because they prevent boredom. It seems silly but boredom can lead to more serious problems, like what we saw in Rinkeby. 

What other issues do immigrants living in Rinkeby face?

Integration has always been a challenge facing the community. Rinkeby and its residents are not integrated into Swedish society. Many community members come from Somalia and Turkey. Many also come from war torn countries. A lot of them are dealing with trauma issues and then there are problems associated with culture shock. Unfortunately, the government has not set aside any funds to deal with these issues.