Five Arab journalists visiting Stockholm
For a few hectic days, five Arab journalists on a visit to Stockholm experience the diversity of the Swedish capital. They come from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq/UK, Morocco and Algeria and are in Stockholm to take part in a programme for international journalists organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Press Centre. As part of a special initiative by the MFA Press Centre this autumn and next spring, journalists from the Middle East and North Africa will receive an introduction to Sweden.
"We have experienced an open, informal and transparent country," says Mina Al-Oraibi, from Iraq/UK.
The five Arab journalists are: Mamdouh Essia from Saudi Arabia, Nafisa Elsabagh from Egypt, Mina Al-Oraibi from Iraq/UK, Mehdi Sekkouri from Morocco and Ataf Kedadra from Algeria. Photo: Gufran Al-Nadaf/MFA.
The programme arranged for these journalists includes meetings with various representatives of Swedish society, ordinary people, visits to Rinkeby and Södertälje as well as meetings with Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström and Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni.
Four of the five journalists have never previously been to Sweden while the fifth was actually born in the Swedish capital in the early 1980s.
What are your impressions of Sweden so far?
"We have experienced an open, informal and transparent country. Everyone we've met has wanted to talk to us and people have not been put out by our questions. At the same time, Sweden seems to be facing a big dilemma. Many vulnerable people find refuge in Sweden but by the same token they experience problems when it comes to integration, work, etc," says Mina Al-Oraibi, from Iraq/UK.
"I get the feeling that islamophobia and xenophobia exist in Sweden too, and I didn't think they did here," says Nafisa Elsabagh, from Egypt.
What is the Arab world's general picture of Sweden?
"I would say that, generally speaking, many Arabs think of law and order in connection with Sweden, and I think of the Nobel Prize," says Ataf Kedadra, from Algeria.
Mina Al-Oraibi thinks it is a pity that Sweden, with its fine reputation, has a passive foreign policy.
"The ordinary person on the street in the Arab world often thinks that Sweden on the foreign policy level is a peaceful country with no hidden agenda. Strong respect for human rights and international law and support to the UN are other aspects," says Nafisa Elsabagh.
"In the Maghreb we are aware of Sweden as a country with no colonial past, which is good, especially in the role of mediator," says Mehdi Sekkouri, from Morocco.
"I didn't know that Sweden had so many different ethnic groups and that there were so many immigrants. That's great," says Ataf Kedadra.
How has your picture of Sweden changed now that you have been here a few days?
"We have probably got a more balanced picture of Sweden now. And I had no idea about the issue of immigrants in Sweden," says Mamdouh Essia from Saudi Arabia.
"There really are people in Sweden who believe in democracy and respect for human rights, even if things aren't perfect here either. I saw Sweden through rose-coloured glasses before this visit, but I realise now that it is much more complex than that," says Nafisa Elsabagh.
Is there anything in particular that you've noticed during your time here?
"The Swedish word for immigrants - "invandrare" - is puzzling to us considering what Sweden stands for, as it has a negative ring to it," say all five journalists.
Would you like to visit Sweden as tourists?
"Of course we would! It is such a beautiful country and we haven't been scared off by the cold or the darkness," they say in chorus.
Facts:
Mamdouh Essia works for the news paper Alriyadh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nafisa Elsabagh works for the news paper Almasri Alyoum in Cairo, Egypt.
Mina Al-Oraibi works for the news paper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat in London, UK.
Mehdi Sekkouri works for the news paper TelQel in Casablanca, Morocco.
Ataf Kedadra works for the news paper Spa El-Khabar in Algers, Algeria.
