Response to Mr. Douglas Murray's Article: Behind the "Immigration and Crime" Controversy; Facts the Media Rarely Mentions

 Response to Mr. Douglas Murray's Article: Behind the "Immigration and Crime" Controversy; Facts the Media Rarely Mentions

Please read my comment at the end of the news and feel free to give your opinion if you wish.

Douglas Murray, the British-American author, in an article published in the New York Post, has claimed that two recent events in America prove that Donald Trump has always been right about immigration from war-torn Muslim countries – citing Sweden as a "horrifying" example that can no longer be ignored.

Murray claims that "Sweden has gone from a quiet, decent country to one where hand-grenade explosions and gang wars are normal." He sees this pattern emerging in America with a delay.

His report references two events: the uncovering of a massive welfare fraud scheme in Minnesota with Somali dimensions, and the shooting by an Afghan man outside the White House. Murray sees these incidents as evidence validating Trump's view of halting immigration from Muslim countries and calls for more "cleansing."

This article reflects the limited and controversial viewpoint of Douglas Murray, who, by relying on a few specific events, engages in dangerous generalizations about millions of immigrants. Several fundamental points this analysis overlooks:

**Lack of Statistics Based on Ethnicity or Religion:** In Sweden, unlike many countries, an individual's ethnicity, race, or religion is not recorded in criminal records or official identification. Therefore, there is no official, reliable statistic proving that "immigrants" or "Muslims" in general commit more crime. Police statistics are usually based on "country of birth," which itself includes individuals who may have lived in Sweden for decades and are citizens. Media focus on crimes by individuals with foreign backgrounds is often exaggerated, while crimes by individuals of Swedish descent of similar magnitude are not reported with the same intensity.

**Roots of Immigration: The Historical Responsibility of the West:** Many who migrate to Europe and America today are fleeing the direct or indirect consequences of wars, foreign interventions, and instabilities created by the policies of these very Western nations in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa. Ignoring this historical responsibility renders the analysis incomplete and unfair.

**The Vital Contribution of Immigrants to Society:** The overwhelming majority of immigrants are law-abiding, hard-working individuals eager to participate. If one were to assume that all foreign-background individuals left Sweden, many vital sectors of society—including healthcare, universities, public transport, restaurants, and various services—would practically come to a halt. Swedish society is dependent on the talent, workforce, and cultural diversity of immigrants. Many of the country's prominent doctors, engineers, and scientists are of foreign origin, and their departure would be an irreparable blow.

**Personal Experience and Social Reality:** Over the years, many residents with migration backgrounds have interacted with thousands of people from different backgrounds, yet serious crime is rarely encountered in daily life. Through selective focus on negative news, the media creates a distorted "media reality" that starkly contrasts with the "reality of everyday life" for most people, both Swedish and immigrant. The Swedish people, on the whole, are kind and hospitable people who respect the humanity of others.

**Critique of Policies: Discrimination and Unethical Conduct:** However, the policies of some parties and politicians in Sweden and Europe are often imbued with hidden racism and structural discrimination. Examples such as the unilateral and illegal cancellation of an international agreement like the JCPOA by the US (which was also unethical), or threats to pursue and revoke the residency of individuals who have worked and lived in Sweden for years, demonstrate instability and unethical behavior at the policy level. This is while many law-abiding immigrants fully agree with the deportation of individuals who commit violent or serious crimes, as they have betrayed the opportunity given by the host society. The problem is discriminatory policies against an entire group, not firm action against criminals.

**Political Representation: Mere Tokenism?** A fundamental question arises: What is the name of a leader of a major political party in Sweden who is of foreign descent? The presence of immigrants and their descendants in high governmental and political positions is minimal, and the exploitation of their limited presence on electoral lists is more "performative" and for gaining votes than a genuine acceptance and sharing of power.

**Conclusion:** Analyses like the one Murray presents, by simplifying a complex issue (integration, inequality, discrimination, colonial history) and turning it into an "us versus them" confrontation, only serve to fuel fear, social division, and populism. The solution is not to stop immigration or engage in collective labeling, but to correct ineffective integration policies, genuinely combat discrimination in the labor and housing markets, and accept historical responsibility for global stability. Swedish society, like many others, is a mixture of challenges and opportunities, and its future depends on the cohesion and equality of all its residents, not on the rejection and exclusion of a group.

Link to the article they wrote 

Peyman Moradkhani