Tag: Kakabaveh

2 Nov. – Left party wording raises questions

Left party grapples with honor violence
pic: futureswithoutviolence.org

The Left party began its congress this past Friday in Göteborg. Although the final decision on the wording of the party platform won’t be taken until May, suggestions for changes have been circulating in Left party circles for a while. One of the suggested changes has met with a lot of critique, also from Jonas Sjöstedt, the Left party’s leader.

In the platform suggestion in question, neither “honor based violence” (hedersvåld) nor “honor based oppression” (hedersförtryck) are mentioned. Instead, the issue is tucked into the larger section with the title Gender Power Hierarchy (könsmaktsordning) where it states “Disparagement takes different forms, and its legitimization can be more or less hidden by everything from the exercise of authority and honor-related concepts to social norms” (SvD.se/honor). The term “honor-related concepts” is a pretty heavily watered down variation on honor-based violence and oppression, people are saying.

The Left party has been accused of being soft on honor-based violence before. In August, representative Amineh Kakabaveh was forced out of (or stepped down from, depending on how you see it) the Left party. According to her, her party made it impossible for her to remain a representative by ignoring her at meetings: It was punishment for speaking out too strongly on women’s behalf, and for criticizing the party for not doing nearly enough to support women (see this post).

Similar critique is now being aimed at the party, and this time from another long-term party member, Jonas Lundgren. The phrase honor-related concepts “relativizes” honor based violence, he says. “It’s like trying to prettify the control and oppression that many suffer in honor’s name” (SvD.se/honor). “We have a feminist platform that declares that these questions are big and important. And yet, dammit, (lik förbannat) there have been people in central positions in the party that have questioned that analysis, wondering if it isn’t an instance of racism” (DN.se/honor).

“This was a mistake in the program” said Jonas Sjöstedt. “It’s likely that there will be rewrites, and the words honor-related concepts will be changed” said Hanna Cederin, the party program committee’s convener (DN.se/honor).

That sounds like an excellent idea.

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28 aug. – Kakabaveh shut down

pic: aftonbladet.se

Goodbye to one of the Left Party’s strongest voices for women, particularly for women who are caught and held in “honor cultures” (hederskultur). Amineh Kakabaveh is (soon to be was) a popular and outspoken parliament member since 2008, and is the founder of the feminist organization Neither slut nor subdued (Varken hora eller kuvad).

Kakabaveh has often been in conflict with her own party, and in the last election did not take an active stand against her supporters who campaigned for her personally. The Left Party does not condone a personal vote in elections, holding instead that it is the party that must be voted for, not its members. Kakabaveh has been very public in her feminist views and has not been shy in saying that no party in Sweden, including her own, does enough to support women. Instead of blaming more abstract oppressors such as “patriarchal structure,” Kakabaveh directed her ire at particular countries and religions, and even – gasp – certain sisters, as the parties guilty of oppressing women (). This didn’t go over well with everyone, especially some people from these countries. Others applauded her courage in taking a stand and for saying it like it is. But it was no secret that Jonas Sjöstedt, the Left Party leader, wasn’t a big fan. Among many voters, her standing matched his.

Not attending weekly Left Party meetings, not paying the Left Party tax, spreading fake news and falsely representing Left Party policies are her crimes, according to party secretary Aron Etzler (). She has let her party down, he said. The Left Party tax (partiskatt) is money that Left Party parliament members are to take out of their parliament salary and give back to the party.

Responding to DN, Kakabaveh said the entire thing came as a surprise. Her work with the organisation Neither slut nor subdued has though, she admitted, been a thorn in her party’s side for a long time. And, she said, there is no use going to meetings if you are shunned and ignored.

If Kakabaveh refuses to leave her seat although she has been excluded from her party, she will become one of the “politically independent” (politiska vildar) in parliament, of which there are now several (mostly ex-members of the Sweden Democrats). Although they keep their votes (and their salary and attendant perks), in reality they are rarely heard, seen or have any influence. It will take all of Kakabaveh’s conviction and strength to be any different.