Trial begins for activists accused of harassing Swedish minister

The trial of four pro-Palestinian activists accused of harassing Sweden’s civil defence minister, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, opened in Stockholm on Monday, public broadcaster SVT reports.

Prosecutors allege the activists followed Bohlin through the streets of Gamla Stan on 8 September last year, shouting accusations including “child murderer” and “you have blood on your hands.” Video footage from the incident—recorded by both the activists and the minister—was played in court, showing the group pursuing Bohlin along cobblestone streets.

Bohlin testified that he felt personally targeted, describing the encounter as “violating and threatening.” He told the court he feared for his safety, uncertain whether the protesters might escalate to physical violence, such as throwing objects or brandishing a knife. Unable to return home without potentially revealing his address, he said he remained in a “numerical disadvantage” with no clear escape.

“He described very clearly how he experienced this as stressful, how he became afraid, how he didn’t know what would happen or where it would lead,” said Rikard Aldurén, legal counsel representing Bohlin.

The defence argues the activists’ actions were protected political expression, part of a larger demonstration held earlier that day at Mynttorget. Linus Gardell, defence attorney for the accused, stated that protesters had trailed the minister for six minutes while chanting political slogans—conduct he said should be permissible in a democracy.

“This was a case of demonstrators following a minister and shouting political messages for six minutes. That’s something you must be allowed to do in a democracy,” Gardell told the court.

The trial continues amid occasional low-key protests from supporters of the accused in the gallery.