Sweden's parliament has given final approval to a constitutional amendment that will explicitly include Holocaust denial within the definition of incitement against an ethnic group under the country's Freedom of the Press Act and Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. The amendment will take effect on January 1, 2027.
The constitution will expressly establish that incitement against an ethnic group constitutes an offense under these laws when it includes denial of genocide or crimes against humanity established by a Swedish or international court ruling.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration in Malmo
(Photo: Gil Nehushtan)
Holocaust denial can already lead to prosecution in Sweden when it meets the legal threshold for incitement against an ethnic group. The new amendment is intended to expand and strengthen the authorities' ability to address hateful publications, including on social media and digital platforms, where certain content may be protected under freedom of the press and expression laws.
The approval marks the final stage of Sweden's constitutional legislative process, which requires two parliamentary votes separated by a general election. Once the first decision has been adopted, the newly elected parliament must approve the amendment again for it to become final.
Israel's ambassador to Sweden, Tammy Rahamimoff-Honig, welcomed the amendment in a post on X.
"Sweden has completed the necessary steps to criminalize Holocaust denial within its constitutional framework, effective January 2027," she wrote. "This is a significant step in combating rising levels of antisemitism. The epidemic of antisemitism demands unwavering commitment and determination!"
First published: 17:04, 11.05.26