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An anti-Israel protest held last week in the northeastern Swedish city of Umeå has sparked widespread condemnation after mannequins dressed in Nazi concentration camp uniforms bearing yellow Stars of David and prisoner numbers were displayed.
The figures were hung from gallows beneath a banner declaring, “Genocide is genocide is genocide,” a disturbing manifestation of Holocaust inversion.
The installation was part of a demonstration linked to the group Umeå for Palestine, which initially shared images of the display on social media, calling the display “performance art,” before removing them amid intense backlash.
Provocative Imagery Sparks National and International Backlash
The protest also featured a figure wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh holding a baby doll, alongside prominently displayed Palestinian flags. The stark juxtaposition equated the Gaza conflict with the Holocaust in a deeply inflammatory and offensive manner.
Jewish organizations and prominent commentators in Sweden swiftly condemned the display. Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) CEO Sacha Roytman called it “sick antisemitism.”
In Sweden Today, a “pro-Palestinian protest” showed Jews hanging, dressed like Nazis did in the Holocaust, under a banner: “A genocide is a genocide.” This sick antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/EF7k9geaEN
— Sacha Roytman (@SachaRoytman) July 19, 2025
Calls for Investigation
Swedish legal experts also weighed in. Professor Marten Schultz, a respected Swedish legal scholar, highlighted that the use of explicitly Jewish symbols such as the Star of David and Holocaust references in this context likely violated laws against incitement.
The incident underscored rising concerns over antisemitic expressions disguised as political protest. Jewish leaders and advocacy groups urged Swedish authorities to launch a formal investigation to determine whether the display constituted hate speech or criminal incitement.
As antisemitism surges globally, this latest episode in Umea stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for vigilance, legal clarity, and robust condemnation of hate masked as protest.
