Swedish police face first discrimination trial brought by equality watchdog
Sweden’s Police Authority will face the first discrimination trial brought against it by the Equality Ombudsman after settlement talks over its treatment of a murdered teenager’s family failed.
The case concerns Mohamed’s mother and sister. The watchdog is seeking SEK 300,000 in compensation, P4 Jönköping reports. Stockholm District Court is due to hear the case on 13, 14 and 27 May 2027.
The lawsuit follows the broadcaster’s investigation into police handling of the family’s attempts to report 14-year-old Mohamed missing in summer 2023. He was later found murdered.
The reporting found that his mother was not interviewed through an interpreter and that officers mocked the idea of speaking to her in Somali. Police later acknowledged failures over interpretation and children’s rights.
The discrimination claim remains contested. When the lawsuit was filed, regional police chief Malena Grann said police lawyers had reached a different assessment from the watchdog, according to the earlier report.
Three judges will decide whether the mother and sister were discriminated against and whether the requested compensation should be paid.
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