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Swedish police forcibly removed climate campaigner Greta Thunberg from a protest on Monday in Malmo. This came hours after a Swedish court fined Thunberg for disobeying police during an environmental protest at an oil facility last month. Even after the court imposed fine on Thunberg, the climate activist once again attempted to block access to the facility.
Thunberg, 20, admitted to the facts but denied guilt, saying the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defense due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis.
“We cannot save the world by playing by the rules,” she told journalists after hearing the verdict, vowing she would “definitely not” back down.
The court rejected her argument and fined her 2,500 kronor (about USD 240).
Charges were brought against Thunberg and several other youth activists from the Reclaim the Future movement for refusing a police order to disperse after blocking road access to an oil terminal in the southern Swedish city of Malmo on June 19.
“If the court sees our actions of self-defence as a crime, that’s how it is,” said Irma Kjellstrom, a spokesperson for Reclaim the Future who was also present at the June protest. She added that activists “have to be exactly where the harm is being done”.
The sentencing appeared to have little effect on the youths’ determination — Thunberg and Reclaim the Future activists returned to the oil terminal in the afternoon to stage to another roadblock and were eventually removed by police.
Thunberg had earlier told the court that her actions were justifiable. “I believe that we are in an emergency that threatens life, health and property. Countless people and communities are at risk both in the short term and in the long term,” she said.
The court ordered Thunberg to pay 1,500 Swedish crowns ($144) and an additional 1,000 crowns to Sweden’s fund for crime victims. The fine was applied in proportion to her reported income. Failure to obey a police order carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
(With inputs from AP)
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