Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani has filed a police complaint against Danish MEP Kristoffer Storm, accusing him of racist hate speech after she was targeted on social media for condemning far-right anti-immigration chants in the European Parliament. The complaint, filed with Swedish police last week, stems from an incident last month when rightwing MEPs chanted 'send them back' following a vote to increase deportations across the EU.
Background of the Incident
During a European Parliament session, some rightwing MEPs erupted in chants of 'send them back' after a vote on deportation legislation. Abir Al-Sahlani, an Iraqi-born Swedish MEP from the Centre party, addressed the hemicycle, calling the chants a 'new low' for the far right. 'I have never felt as unsafe in this parliament,' she said. 'The shouting of the far right was not against a political opponent, it was about ordinary people who did no other crime than looking for a better life in Europe.'
Her comments circulated on social media, prompting responses from two rightwing populist MEPs. Finnish MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen of the Finns party wrote 'Cry more' in response to a clip of her speech, while Danish MEP Kristoffer Storm of the Denmark Democrats said she 'should go home'.
Police Complaint and Reactions
On Wednesday, Al-Sahlani announced she had filed a police complaint against Storm, accusing him of racist and hate speech. She explained that the complaint focused only on Storm because Swedish police were unsure how to handle Tynkkynen's social media post. Both men have denied the accusations.
The confrontation highlights deep divisions in the European Parliament, where far-right and rightwing populist MEPs now represent about a quarter of lawmakers—a record—while minority ethnic backgrounds remain drastically underrepresented.
Support and Threats
Al-Sahlani told the Guardian she felt 'sadness for European democracy' and disappointment that colleagues would behave this way. The rightwing comments prompted a wave of support online but also rape and death threats. Her group, Renew Europe, stood behind her. Group leader Valérie Hayer said, 'Racism has no place in our institutions, and those who spread it must face the consequences.' Hayer called on European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to take disciplinary action against Storm and Tynkkynen.
Metsola's office described the incidents as 'regrettable' and stated there is zero tolerance for actions undermining respect for MEPs or the institution. On Monday, Metsola addressed Parliament, saying the 'aggressive chanting, jeering, finger-pointing and filming of members that took place' crossed a line and that her office would take appropriate action to prevent recurrence.
Al-Sahlani's Perspective
Al-Sahlani said she hesitated to speak up after the chants, noting that few people with her skin color are in the chamber. She decided to act because the attacks targeted 'people who have no power,' warning that attacking the weakest leads to a slippery slope. She also criticized centre-right groups for enabling the far right by supporting the deportation legislation, which Amnesty International called 'absurd, cruel and discriminatory' and has been condemned by over a dozen UN experts.
Tynkkynen denied the allegations, calling them 'false accusations,' and said he planned to file a complaint. Storm claimed his remarks were not racist, explaining that 'go home' meant she would have been better off leaving the chamber to reflect rather than accusing political opponents of making her feel unsafe. Al-Sahlani dismissed this, saying, 'People are smarter than this.'
