Swedish party official suspended after making offensive post about Anne Frank
An official with a Swedish political party was suspended Saturday after reportedly making offensive comments about Holocaust victim and diarist Anne Frank on social media, The Associated Press reported.
Rebecka Fallenkvist, a 26-year-old programming head with the far-right group Sweden Democrats, called Frank "immoral" and derogatory names in a post on Instagram, AP reports, citing Swedish media. The post has since been deleted, but can be seen in a tweet from the Israeli ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, who condemned the remarks.
Frank was forced into hiding with her family in an Amsterdam attic when the Nazis rose to power. She and her family were eventually discovered and sent to concentration camps, where Frank and her older sister, Margot, died in 1945, just weeks before the camps were liberated. She documented her experiences living in the attic in a journal that was retrieved from the hiding space and published in 1947 as The Diary of Anne Frank.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The director of the Sweden Democrats, Oskar Cavalli-Björkman, told media the party had suspended Fallenkvist. He further called her comments "insensitive and inappropriate" and said an internal investigation would be launched.
However, despite the outcry, Fallenkvist defended her actions in a message to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, per AP, claiming her words were misinterpreted.
"The book is a moving depiction of human good and evil," she said. "My story was aimed at the good and human in Anne while not playing down the evil to which she was subjected."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
8 new cookbooks ready to make your summer hum
The Week Recommends The most special of Vietnamese food, Italian American baking for all and a primer on turning beloved cocktails into freezer versions of themselves
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
The best lakeside getaways in Europe
The Week Recommends These tranquil lakes offer a quieter alternative to their coastal neighbours
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
5 ways to help the environment while on vacation
The Week Recommends An afternoon of planting trees could be the best part of your trip
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Best night trains in Europe
The Week Recommends Growing in popularity, sleepers offer the perfect combination of travel and accommodation in one
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
6 fabulous hotels to visit in April
The Week Recommends Stay at a zoo in Sydney, or meet vortex hunters in Sedona
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published