This video does not show a “demonstration by Islamists” opposed to the extreme right in Sweden

Published on: 09/13/2022 – 17:25 Since September 11, 2022, French-speaking Twitter accounts have shared a video supposed to show a “demonstration of Islamists” who would have gathered in Malmö in Sweden to “protest against the rise of the ‘far right”. In reality, these images show a Shia religious procession celebrated on September 10 in honor of Imam Hussein. This celebration has already taken place several times in the city and has no connection with the legislative elections which were held the following day. Verification in brief Since September 11, 2022, the date of the legislative elections in Sweden, far-right French-speaking Twitter accounts have been sharing a video showing a rally in a square in the city of Malmö. According to these accounts, these images would show a “demonstration of Islamists protesting against the rise of the extreme right in the country”. Geolocation tools make it possible to confirm that these images were indeed shot in Malmö. But several visual details evoke Shia religious commemorations that take place regularly in the streets of the city. By searching YouTube for footage of the most recent Shiite holiday, and comparing it to the video shared on YouTube, it is possible to verify that this video has nothing to do with the legislative elections. This is a religious procession organized on September 10, 2022 by the Shiite community of Malmö in honor of Imam Hussein. Details of the verification According to still partial results, the Democrats of Sweden would have won 20, 5% of the votes cast in the legislative elections held on September 11, 2022. Pending confirmation, this historic score would make the far-right party led by Jimmie Akesson the second political force in Sweden. On social networks, this news caused reactions beyond the country’s borders. This is particularly the case in France where, on September 11, 2022, certain Twitter accounts showing their support for the far right shared a video. These images, which have already accumulated more than 300,000 views, show several women dressed in black veils and a few men waving flags on which are inscribed words in Arabic. However, according to the French accounts broadcasting this video, it would be a demonstration which would have been organized in Malmö by “Islamists mobilized against the rise of the far right”. Screenshot of one of the tweets, here posted on September 11, 2022, sharing this video shot in Malmö. © Observers To understand what these images really show, they must first be geolocated (see here how to proceed). The sculpture visible in the background notably confirms that this video was indeed shot in Malmö in Sweden, and, more precisely, in a square located in front of the Malmö art gallery. Comparison between a screenshot of the video (left), and a photograph taken in Malmö in July 2022 (right) available thanks to the Google Street View tool. © Observers But a few details cast doubt on the allegations posted on Twitter by accounts close to the far right. It is in particular the presence of flags with the effigy of Imam Hussein. For Shiite Muslims, Hussein, grandson of Muhammad, became a martyr when he died during the battle of Karbala, the founding event of Shiism. The commemoration of his death gives rise to a forty-day period of mourning marked by several dates important events such as Ashura, a religious holiday celebrated annually by Shia communities in many countries. This year, this period of commemoration straddles the months of August and September. Comparison between a screenshot from the video (left) and a photograph, taken in Iraq on March 27, 2011 by photographer Chris Frost. We find on these two images flags with the effigy of Imam Hussein. © Observers This mourning ends with the feast of Arbaïn, which marks the end of this period of forty days. However, by searching YouTube for the words “Arbaïn Malmö”, we find several videos showing Shiite religious processions that took place in Malmö in 2013, 2018, or even 2021. This year, this procession took place in the streets of the city on September 10. This event was also recorded by a live broadcast on YouTube. We find there the place of departure of the procession, namely the same place as that visible in the video broadcast on Twitter by French-speaking accounts. And several details are found in the two videos: these include the white armband and the white brooch worn by a man dressed in black, or even the digital signs and posters installed on a car. Comparison between the video posted on Twitter on September 11, 2022 (left), and the live YouTube broadcast on September 10, 2022. © Observers On the live YouTube, we can also see flags bearing the image of Imam Hussein, and we also hear the participants sing a song (“labbayka ya hussein”) in honor of their martyr. This video supposed to show a “demonstration of Islamists opposed to the extreme right” was therefore shot in Malmö on September 10, 2022. But these images actually show a Shiite religious procession which has taken place several times in recent years in the city ​​streets. Contrary to what accounts close to the extreme right claim, this is not a demonstration linked to the legislative elections.