Swedish education minister sparks debate by wearing Star of David on TV

During a televised debate ahead of Sweden's September elections, education minister Simona Mohamsson wore a Star of David necklace, stating it was for children who fear speaking out against anti-Semitism. The Palestinian-descended minister said Sweden should be a sanctuary for Jews and distance itself from forces that exploit conflict to spread hate. She also singled out the Left Party, alleging they enable anti-Jewish attitudes by sending letters to Hamas members.

While Sweden's Jewish community called the act powerful, commentators such as Valley Ghanem condemned it as self-hatred and issued threatening remarks. Mohamsson reported receiving online threats following the appearance. The incident adds to a broader discussion about rising anti-Semitic incidents in Sweden, which recorded over 200 attacks in 2024.