Several pro-Israel participants of the Malmo Pride Parade were assaulted by a gang of men after the event this week, a victim and the Southern Region Swedish Police told The Jerusalem Post.
Johannes Vazha Tabdgiridze, his husband, and two friends had gone to the parade to participate and also express support for Israel. Wearing and carrying Israeli flags or rainbow flags with stars of David, the only political party the group had reportedly only been welcomed to march alongside were the Swedish Liberal party.
After the event, when the group went to get food, some men in a car drove up alongside them and began to hurl homophobic and antisemitic abuse. The two men in their late 30s that Vazha Tabdgiridze said were Palestinian called the group “F***ing gays,” “F***ing Jews,” “bitches,” and “baby killers.” The pride marchers reportedly tried to ignore the abusers, eventually telling them to leave them alone.
BREAKING:Swedish police confirms that 3 participants of the Malmö Gay Pride Parade in Sweden were beaten up for wearing Stars of David.The migrant men who attacked them said:- “Do you support killing children?”- “You f*cking f*ggots”- “You think I won’t hit a f*g?” pic.twitter.com/fa4OoMpKzM
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 8, 2024
The two harassers exited their car and assaulted Vazha Tabdgiridze’s group, and were joined by Middle Eastern youth from a nearby salon, who joined in beating and insulting them. Vazha Tabdgiridze said that a woman in a keffiyeh had stoked the tensions.
Police open investigation
As the pride marchers fled, Vazha Tabdgiridze said they were spat on and pelted with sandwiches. The group contacted the police, and the attackers reportedly fled, but it took them 20 minutes to arrive. Vazha Tabdgiridze noted that there was a heavy police presence at a park only six minutes from the scene. The woman in the keffiyeh reportedly also contacted the police and claimed that the pride marchers had assaulted the gang of men.
The police have opened an investigation into the case, in which the attackers are suspected of offenses that included molestation, assault, and attempted assault.
“The Swedish police take this type of crime very seriously and we are actively working on the current case,” said a police spokesperson.
Vazha Tabdgiridze was critical of the police, since they had reportedly not yet made any arrests despite the license plate of the attacker’s car being visible in the video taken by the group. Vazha Tabdgiridze was set to be interviewed by the police on Friday.
“I hope that justice will be on our side, because Swedish police are known to shut down cases and not go further,” said Vazha Tabdgiridze.
The victims were also critical of the Malmo Pride organizers, who hadn’t contacted them or made public statements.“We feel left alone,” said Vazha Tabdgiridze.
Malmo Pride reportedly only became aware of the assault on Monday, and told the Post that it condemned the violence. Organizers are set to meet to evaluate the 2024 Malmo Pride, and will reportedly discuss the matter at the meeting.
Vazha Tabdgiridze said that he was feeling anxious about the traumatic experience, and was still dealing with the psychological repercussions.
“Things here in Malmo are getting worse with all the Arab immigrants – though obviously not all of them are like that, but many are Hamas supporters,” said Vazha Tabdgiridze. “They’re hiding their antisemitism with anti-Zionism.”
Vazha Tabdgiridze’s husband, Max, wrote on Instagram on Wednesday that while the parade had ended in tragedy, it started with two dozen friends energetically enjoying the event and sharing bracelets that read “love” in Hebrew. They were grateful for those who had shown support after the attack.
“We are proud of who we are and what we represent,” said Max. “It isn’t easy being loud and proud, but someone’s gotta do it and it may as well be us.”