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.