The Stockholm District Court made a formal judgement on the case of the former Deputy Chairman of the Turkish National Association of Sweden Barbaros Leylani, who made xenophobic, anti-Armenian statements containing clear expressions of incitement to violence, hatred and racial discrimination, website of the regional socio-political newspaper Sydsvenskan» reports.

Besides, the court sentenced Leylani to fine in an amount equal to his 40-day income.

However, it is noted that according to Arshak Gavafyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Sweden, the decision of the court was too soft.

An anti-Armenian demonstration was organized by the Coordination Center of Azerbaijani Associations in Sweden in the square Sergels, Stockholm, on Saturday, April 9. Over 100 people took part in the demonstration. Representatives of local Azerbaijani and Turkish organizations were among the protesters. The Armenian embassy in Sweden reported in a statement that during the demonstration, the vice chairman of the Coordination Center of Turkish Associations in Sweden, Barbaros Leylani, made a speech

in Turkish coming up with anti-Armenian and nationalistic statements.
“It is time for uniting the Turkish nation. The Turks will wake up putting an end to the Armenian dogs. Death to the Armenian dogs! Death! Death!” – Barbaros Leylani stated.

It was noted that the protesters also shouted “Death to the Armenian dogs, death, death, death!” Leylani’s speeches were widely spread in Sweden, as a result, the reaction of the central media followed. V4, a local TV channel, presented the video during its evening news program.

Swedish MP Fredrik Malm and the chairman of the Coordination Center of Armenian Associations, Karlen Mansuryan, condemned such aggressive statements commenting the demonstration and Leylani’s statements on air.

The website Dagens Nyheter reported that according to Simon Sahakyan, the secretary of the Armenian Academic Association in Sweden, Leylani’s statements reflect the Turkish authorities’ position led by the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He reminded the audience of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey and highlighted that this historical fact has already been recognized by many states despite Turkey’s resistance.

barbaros-trial The Turkish politician, who made insulting remarks about Armenians during last year’s anti-Armenian demonstration organized by Azerbaijani and Turkish population at Sergels Square in the center of the Swedish capital, had to stand in front of the court. Ermenihaber reports referring to ANF agency.

Already former Vice Chairman of Turkish National Association Barbaros Leylani, who called for the death of “Armenian dogs” during the protest, has recently testified in the court.
Leylani has commented on his statements claiming that “being in a bad psychological state, he delivered his speech on the spot without preparing it previously”. Turning to the word “dog” he has noted that he used the remark to accuse those Armenians who support terrorism, and it did not refer to the peaceful citizens.

At the end of his testimony he said “I apologize” in response to the judge’s question whether the defendant has anything to add.

Noting that the statements made by Leylani incite hatred towards an ethnic group, the Prosecutor has asked to impose a suspended sentence and a fine. The verdict will be issued on 14 December.

One of the Swedish TV channels broadcast the video of the anti-Armenian speech, which was followed by heavy criticism. Afterwards Leylani said that he made the remarks driven out of impulses and they should not be considered threats.

However his justifications were not accepted and he had to resign from the position of the Vice Chairman. In addition to this, over 50 Armenian, Kurdish and Swedish organizations operating in Stockholm submitted applications to the Prosecutor’s Office demanding to punish Leylani.

Swedish Court passes sentence on Turkish nationalist Barbaros Leylani because of his statements to kill Armenians

Sweden: Barbaros Leylani faces trial for making insulting remarks about Armenians