EUROPE-MIGRANTS/SWEDEN-REFUGEES DEMO Thousands of Swedes protest to say 'Refugees Welcome' in their country

Record ID: 141756

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/SWEDEN-REFUGEES DEMO Thousands of Swedes protest to say 'Refugees Welcome' in their country
  • Date: 6th September 2015
  • Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 6, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS STANDING IN SQUARE WITH UMBRELLAS BANNER READING (Swedish): "Together against racism" WOMAN ON STAGE / BANNER READING (English): "Refugees welcome" CROWD LISTENING BANNER READING (Swedish): "Refugee amnesty now" MAN HOLDING CHILD IN CROWD WOMAN ON STAGE CROWD LISTENING / BANNER READING (Swedish): "Refugee amnesty now" CROWD LISTENING CHILDREN STANDING BY STATUE CROWD LISTENING SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER STEFAN LOFVEN SPEAKING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER, STEFAN LOFVEN, SAYING: "We will transform the sorrow we feel into action, because we must of course now act, and Sweden will continue to share this responsibility." LOFVEN ON STAGE CROWD LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER, STEFAN LOFVEN, SAYING: "The EU has to sharply increase the number of refugees it accepts and yes, Sweden, will fulfill its share of such a commitment." LOFVEN ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER, SILVIANO GARNERONI, SAYING: "We are here to support what we believe are basic human rights. So the freedom to move in the world, in a free world at least." (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) PROTESTER, PESHRAWI AZIZI, SAYING: "Europe must open its arms and accept these refugees that are fleeing war. We must must all help these people. They need us." (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) PROTESTER, KAJSA OVERGAARD, SAYING: "Personally, I think we have both the room and the money to accept them, both here in Sweden and other countries in Europe. Yes, we should accept them with open arms, and make sure they enjoy it here and have a good place to live until they possibly choose to return." VARIOUS OF GIRL HOLDING UP POSTER READING (Swedish): "It could have been my brother on the beach."
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sweden
  • Country: Sweden
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABM5MUFZ9X8XA58SZTRO0TKBPQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Around 15,000 people braved the rain to attend a demo in central Stockholm on Sunday (September 6) to say 'Refugees Welcome' in Sweden.
    The protest was inspired by similar events in Germany and Austria.
    Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said the image of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who drowned as his family tried to reach Greece, had moved many and that sorrow had to be turned into action.
    "We will transform the sorrow we feel into action, because we must of course now act, and Sweden will continue to share this responsibility," Stefan Lofven told the crowds gathered to hear him speak.
    Sweden gives automatic residency to Syrian refugees and welcomes more asylum seekers per capita than any other nation in Europe, making it one of the destinations of choice for many of the migrants now making their way across the continent.
    In recent years, thousands of refugees have entered Scandinavia, enticed by the Nordics' traditional openness, strong economies, security and welfare.
    Around 81,000 sought asylum in Sweden last year - second only to Germany.
    During his speech, Lofven also called on other European countries to share the burden of the migrant crisis and to introduce a system of quotas.
    "The EU has to sharply increase the number of refugees it accepts and yes, Sweden, will fulfil its share of such a commitment," the Swedish prime minister said.
    Lofven will travel to Berlin on Tuesday (September 8) for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the current crisis.
    A record 104,460 asylum seekers entered Germany in August and the country expects about 800,000 refugees and migrants this year - four times last year's level.
    Silviano Garneroni was at the demo with his wife and son.
    "We are here to support what we believe are basic human rights. So the freedom to move in the world, in a free world at least," he said.
    Peshrawi Azizi, who witnessed the dire situation in the Syrian town of Kobani firsthand, said the refugees needed help urgently.
    "Europe must open its arms and accept these refugees that are fleeing war. We must must all help these people. They need us," he said.
    Kajsa Overgaard said there was no question about taking in more asylum seekers.
    "Personally, I think we have both the room and the money to accept them, both here in Sweden and other countries in Europe. Yes, we should accept them with open arms, and make sure they enjoy it here and have a good place to live until they possibly choose to return," she said.
    Europe is seeing an unprecedented migration crisis and the flow of people risking the dangerous journey on flimsy boats across the Mediterranean shows no sign of abating, as they flee a four-year-old civil war in Syria that has killed about 250,000 civilians, and wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and in Africa.
    The EU is deeply divided over how to cope with the influx of people, making the 28-nation bloc look ineffective and heartless as member states blame each other, fuelling political populism and anti-Muslim sentiment.
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