DO NOT TOUCH OUR RUNES!
In Sweden, we have something called freedom of religion, which is recognised as a human right. Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights states that the state is not entitled to restrict the individual’s right to religious freedom by legislation or intervention.
HOW can religious symbols (and letters in the futharks) that are thousands of years old be considered illegal? They have a basic meaning and symbolic value that has remained the same for a very long time. The only way that these expressions of our faith and culture can be seen as negative is if they are interpreted through the political groupings that use them. Runes and symbols are not politics, ideology is politics!
Through the Minister of Justice of Sweden, Morgan Johansson, an investigation is currently underway to determine whether the use of runes should be considered illegal. In other words, they are investigating whether parts of our runes should be considered illegal to wear as symbols and use within the framework of our faith! Our faith and culture are not political, nor should they be interpreted politically!
The ECHR states in its 9th paragraph:
‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the maintenance of public order, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.’
Our view is that prejudices and misunderstandings are best cured with knowledge and facts! It is no good trying to replace the meaning of our symbols with our own prejudices or political meanings they lack. To ban them would be to ban part of our own history, culture and beliefs – and our right to express them because of political interpretations that do not belong in the Asatru sphere!
We in the Nordic Asa-community now call on EVERYONE to actively take a stand on this issue by signing to prevent a political ban on the use of our runes and other symbols that belong to both our faith and our cultural heritage. DO NOT TOUCH OUR RUNES!
At the moment, 15120 people have signed our ”Don’t touch our runes – Don’t touch our faith” petition
What today’s politicians are doing must under no circumstances destroy the expressions of a religion and culture as old as the first footprints of the first settlers in the North.
THE PETITION IS CLOSED
Support our petition campaign
Rör inte våra runor – Rör inte vår tro
Namninsamlingen är avslutad
End date: May 24, 2019
Signatures collected: 15,120
Thanks for your support
Read more:
The Swedish government is setting up an inquiry to review criminal liability for racist symbols..
https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2018/07/straffansvaret-for-rasistiska-symboler-ses-over/
https://www.regeringen.se/49f2a7/contentassets/8fc9e77e14264537bc2a50f4001b7e31/rasistiska-symboler-dir-2018-61.pdf
Article in the Swedish newspaper SVD: More racist symbols could be banned
More symbols associated with Nazism and racism could be banned.
https://www.svd.se/lagforslag-om-datalagring-i-september
Our open letter to Morgan Johansson when he first started talking about banning the rune TiwaR from 2017:
https://www.asa-samfundet.se/tyr-runan/
Contact details or if you want to get involved
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +46 (0)10 – 641 02 55
