An 18-year-old man convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl in Skellefteå will not be deported due to his refugee status, despite the prosecutor's request. The ruling has sparked widespread anger and international attention, including from Elon Musk. The migration minister now seeks to lower the threshold for deportations and review international conventions.
In September 2024, an then 18-year-old man assaulted 16-year-old Meya Åberg on her way home from work in a pedestrian tunnel in Skellefteå and raped her. The prosecutor sought prison and deportation, but the appeals court sentenced only to prison for rape of normal degree, not gross rape, as the crime lasted 'some seconds to a minute', according to appeals court judge Lars Viktorsson.
Viktorsson explained in SVT Aktuellt and to Aftonbladet that deportation would not have been possible anyway. The Migration Agency had indicated an enforcement obstacle due to the man's refugee status. 'Even if we had decided on deportation, the decision would likely not have been enforceable', he said.
Meya's father Johan Åberg expressed frustration: 'Deportation has actually been the most important, just so she won't have to see him again. It makes you wonder where the boundary really lies.' The ruling has spread internationally, and Elon Musk wrote 'Galet' (crazy) on X.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) reacted strongly: 'I feel enormous empathy for Meya, but also enormous frustration that Sweden has long had a policy that protects perpetrators at the expense of crime victims.' He plans new legislation lowering the deportation threshold from six months' prison to 'everything above fines', which could sextuple deportations. Forssell and the Moderates also want to review the European Convention on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention to facilitate deportation of dangerous individuals with refugee status.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) agreed and wants to examine if the European Convention can be changed for more deportations of criminals, according to Sveriges Radio Ekot. The Moderates prioritize victims' safety over the perpetrator's ties to Sweden.
