Editing Sweden Democrats (section)

=== Muhammad cartoon debate ===
After the Danish daily newspaper ''[[Jyllands-Posten]]'' published twelve cartoons depicting [[Muhammad]] and ignited [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy|a controversy]] during the{{nbsp}}2005 autumn and winter, the Sweden Democrats gave their unreserved support to the publication with reference to the [[freedom of speech]]. SD{{nbsp}}stated that it saw no reason why a Danish newspaper should be forced to abide by Muslim rules and prohibitions regarding expression. When the boycott of Danish products was launched in the Middle East, SD{{nbsp}}launched a "Buy Danish" campaign in support of Danish workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sverigedemokraterna.net/kampanj_dk.php?action=fullnews&id=569|title=Stöd Danmark—Köp danskt!|website=Sverigedemokraterna.se|date=13 February 2006|access-date=25 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502182151/http://www.sverigedemokraterna.net/kampanj_dk.php?action=fullnews&id=569<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=2 May 2006|language=sv}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=September 2012}} In 2006 SD entered [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy|the Muhammad cartoon debate]] by publishing a cartoon depicting Muhammad on its youth league (SDU) and ''SD-Kuriren'' ({{IPA|sv|ˈɛ̂sːdeːkɵˌriːrɛn|pron|Sv-SD-Kuriren.ogg}}) websites. The cartoon showed Muhammad from behind holding a mirror in front of his face. However, instead of any facial features, the mirror showed only a blank head. The cartoon was captioned "Muhammad's Face" ({{langx|sv|Muhammeds ansikte|links=no}} {{IPA|sv|mɵˈhǎmːɛds ˈânːsɪktɛ||Sv-Muhammeds ansikte.ogg}}).<ref name="autogenerated44">{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/muhammedteckningar-borta-efter-saposamtal/ |title=Muhammedteckningar borta efter Säposamtal |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206050438/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/muhammedteckningar-borta-efter-saposamtal-1.628077 |archive-date=6 December 2009 }}</ref>

The publication attracted the attention of the Swedish government, which informed internet service provider ''Levonline'' about the SD's publications. Subsequently, ''Levonline'' shut down SD's web page. The [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]], [[Laila Freivalds]], denied any direct interference. However, at the same time, Laila Freivalds condemned the publication as a provocation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/regeringen-har-inte-varit-inblandad/ |title=Regeringen har inte varit inblandad |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=26 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714092716/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/regeringen-har-inte-varit-inblandad-1.674039 |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/sapo-forsvarar-beslut-att-stanga-sd-sajt/ |title=Säpo försvarar beslut att stänga SD-sajt |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=26 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714092606/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/sapo-forsvarar-beslut-att-stanga-sd-sajt-1.773593 |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/mycket-kravs-for-sajtstangning/ |title=Mycket krävs för sajtstängning |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=26 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714092711/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/mycket-kravs-for-sajtstangning-1.681494 |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/sapo-lagger-locket-pa/ |title=Säpo lägger locket på |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714092726/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/sapo-lagger-locket-pa-1.659632 |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> Freivalds then resigned from the [[Persson Cabinet]] after being accused of interference with press freedom and lying about such actions.

This event spurred debate on government censorship in Sweden. The Sweden Democrats also had a [[hate speech]] charge filed against them due to the posted caricature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/centerpartist-polisanmaler-sverigedemokraterna/ |title=Centerpartist polisanmäler Sverigedemokraterna |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=14 February 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714092705/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/centerpartist-polisanmaler-sverigedemokraterna-1.505666 |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> Similar hate speech charges were filed against other Swedish publishers who had depicted Muhammad.<ref name="autogenerated44" /> However, these charges were immediately deemed to be unfounded by the [[Chancellor of Justice (Sweden)|Swedish Chancellor of Justice]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/inrikes/did_11790299.asp |title=Kritik mot stängning av nättidning |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428051354/http://www.svd.se/dynamiskt/inrikes/did_11790299.asp |archive-date=28 April 2006 }}</ref>

The Sweden Democrats originally planned to publish a set of cartoons in their newspaper ''SD-Kuriren''. However, after the controversy erupted, Jimmie Åkesson issued a statement on SD's website on 9 February 2006, stating that they would refrain from further publications online and in print, due to concerns that publishing might spur hostile actions against Swedes and Swedish interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1369|title=Vädjanden från landsmän fick oss att stanna upp|publisher=SD Kuriren|date=9 February 2006|access-date=25 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908135455/http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1369<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=8 September 2006|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1372|title=Sverigedemokratisk Ungdom tar bort bilder efter samtal med SÄPO|publisher=SD Kuriren|date=10 February 2006|access-date=25 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922073908/http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1372<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=22 September 2006|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1368|title=Sverigedemokraterna avstår från vidare publicering av Muhammedbilder av hänsyn till svenska liv|publisher=SD Kuriren|date=9 February 2006|access-date=25 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807130853/http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1368<!--Manually retrieved archive-->|archive-date=7 August 2007|language=sv}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=September 2012}}

The shutdown of the Sweden Democrats' websites was reported to the [[Committee on the Constitution]] by the [[Liberals (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] leader [[Lars Leijonborg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/stangning-av-sd-sajt-till-ku/ |title=Stängning av SD-sajt till KU |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |date=11 February 2006 |access-date=25 May 2006 |language=sv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824025713/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/stangning-av-sd-sajt-till-ku-1.760849 |archive-date=24 August 2010 }}</ref> SD filed complaints against the [[Swedish Security Service|Security Service]] (''Säpo'') and the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] with the ''Justitiekansler'' and ''[[Parliamentary Ombudsman|Justitieombudsmannen]]'', alleging that the government's interference was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1371|title=Sverigedemokraterna anmäler UD och SÄPO till JO och JK|access-date=25 May 2006|publisher=SD Kuriren|date=10 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060921180848/http://www.sdkuriren.se/nyheter.php?action=fullnews&id=1371<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=21 September 2006|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite report |title=Fråga om Säkerhetspolisen eller Utrikesdepartementet agerat i strid med yttrandefrihetsgrundlagens censurförbud |date=24 March 2006 |url=https://www.jk.se/beslut-och-yttranden/2006/03/1319-06-21/ |publisher=[[Chancellor of Justice (Sweden)|Chancellor of Justice]] |id=Registration number 21 June 1319|language=Swedish}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=September 2012}} The spokesperson of the [[Green Party (Sweden)|Green Party]], [[Peter Eriksson (politician)|Peter Eriksson]], also criticised the involvement of the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] in the event.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Inte UD:s ansvar stänga SD-sajt |url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/inte-uds-ansvar-stanga-sd-sajt/ |last=Sedvallson |first=Kerstin |date=11 February 2006 |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |language=Swedish}}</ref>