Disinfo: Swedish City Allows Muslim Prayer Calls, Rejects Church Clock Ringing

Summary

The Swedish town of Växjö has sparked a lot of controversy by granting the local Muslim Foundation permission to run prayer calls at a maximum volume of 110 decibels. By contrast, a local church had to confine itself to a small and “quiet” clock inside the building to be used for a similar purpose. Saint Michael Church, which belongs to the local Catholic community, previously asked for permission to ring clocks, but, unlike the local Muslim Foundation, received a resonant “no.”

Disproof

Actually, the Catholic Assembly in the city of Växjö has never sent in an application to call its members to worship and hence it has not been rejected.Neither Växjö municipality nor the local police authorities could find any traces of the alleged request. The fake claim to the contrary has had enormous spread on social media, both in Sweden and abroad. The original publication in the small Swedish local newspaper was corrected, but that did not happen in most international publications. Furthermore, the Catholic parish’s request to use their church bells was supposedly denied ”10-15 years ago” – thereby eliminating any connection to the mosque’s application being approved today. Smålandsposten’s editor-in-chief, Magnus Karlsson, regretted the initial article. ”I am disappointed that we published the article without enough evidence. But initially we didn’t have reason to distrust the information we received from the priest. We have followed up the article. But, as P4 realised, there is no formal decision" he said. www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/catholic-parish-was-not-denied-using-church-bells/,

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 108
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14/05/2018
  • Outlet language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Sweden
  • Keywords: Muslim/Islam
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Disproof

Taras Hapiak is a real person and a sergeant in the Ukrainian army. According to the Ukrainian Security Service, in March of 2017 he was captured by LPR militants. Hapiak was freed in a prisoner exchange on December 27, 2017. After his release he related how he was forced to record the video under torture. Further debunking by Stopfake.

Disinfo: The Western countries did not let Yulia Samoylova into the Eurovision finals in order to humiliate Russia

The decision on the first three places [in the Eurovision song contest] is taken by a very narrow circle of countries that mark the winners. Therefore- in order to humiliate Russia once again – Yulia Samoylova was not let to join the finals.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory, no evidence given. Julia Samoylova ranked 15th in the second semi-finals because she got only 65 points. eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018/second-semi-final/participants, Viewers at home and professional juries each determine the outcome of the two Semi-Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. In each Semi-Final, 10 contestants qualify for the Grand Final.eurovision.tv/about/voting/, Other examples of disinformation around the Eurovision: euvsdisinfo.eu/disinformation-cases/?text=eurovision&disinfo_issue=&date=,

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the US suspended duty free import of 155 types of Ukrainian products due to the political situation in the country.

Disproof

Actually, the decision on the part of the US was made last year and has nothing to do with the current political situation in Ukraine. In December 2017 the US administration put Ukraine on notice for “failing to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights, providing 120 days to remedy the situation and improve the legal regime governing royalties. As the 120 days’ notice expired and the copyright situation in Ukraine remained unchanged, Ukraine’s partial suspension from the Generalized System of Preferences for 155 types of Ukrainian products went into effect in April 26, 2018. In a special 2018 report on intellectual property rights issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative, Ukraine continues to be on the US priority watch list for copyright infringement together with China, Russia, Argentina and eight other countries. Further debunking at Stopfake.org