Swedish MP Faces Backlash Over Antisemitic Image; Jewish Leaders Demand Apology or Ouster
Swedish MP Lorena Delgado Varas faces backlash for sharing an antisemitic image as Jewish leaders demand accountability and action from the Left Party.
Swedish Member of Parliament Lorena Delgado Varas is under intense scrutiny after reposting an image widely condemned as antisemitic. The European Jewish Association (EJA) and Jewish communal leaders have called for her immediate apology—or expulsion from the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet)—amid a broader climate of rising antisemitism in Sweden.
The image, which Delgado Varas shared on social media, was reposted from the account of Bisan Owda, a known member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization by the European Union. The cartoon has been characterized by multiple watchdogs and Jewish organizations as evoking classic antisemitic tropes, including themes of blood libel and Jewish global domination.
The illustration shows a hand marked with the Israeli flag puppeteering another hand marked with the American flag, which in turn was puppeteering other nations—an unmistakable reference to longstanding antisemitic conspiracies portraying Jews or Israel as secretly controlling world powers, especially the United States. Such imagery has deep roots in far-right and Islamist propaganda, evoking ideas of Jewish global manipulation—an accusation central to the infamous antisemitic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
Though Delgado Varas deleted the post shortly after sharing it, her explanation—that she had not fully read the post before sharing—has done little to temper criticism.
“When the image itself is so blatantly antisemitic, that’s not a valid excuse—it should never have been shared under any circumstances. The fact that she deleted the post without taking responsibility only further undermines her credibility,” Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Chairman of the European Jewish Association, told JewishOnliner in a written statement.
The EJA confirmed that it sent a formal letter to Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar demanding action. As of publication, the party has not issued a formal response.
“We have not yet received a direct response from Nooshi Dadgostar,” said David Lega, EJA’s Senior Adviser for Scandinavia, “As of now, we are also not aware of any official statement from her addressing the significant public concern surrounding this issue.” “It seems likely that she is behind Delgado Varas’s recent pause from assignments—a step we acknowledge—but that alone is far from sufficient given the gravity of what was shared,” he added.
Delgado Varas has so far not offered a public apology. In response, the EJA has reiterated its call for the MP’s expulsion if no formal apology is issued.
“An elected member of a national parliament sharing this kind of hateful imagery is simply unacceptable,” said Lega. “While there may be no formal mechanism to remove her from parliament over this, the party board absolutely has the authority to expel her—and they should.”
The incident has drawn a formal police complaint from Sweden’s central Jewish representative body, Judiska Centralrådet, accusing Delgado Varas of incitement against an ethnic group under Swedish law.
“Delgado Varas has spread an anti-Semitic myth that over the years has caused enormous harm to us Jews. It is important that the law enforcement authorities are now allowed to examine whether she can be held responsible for this act,” The Judiska Centralrådet wrote in a press statment.
This episode has struck a nerve in Sweden, where Jewish communities are already reporting increased hostility and concern about their safety. A 2024 report by the Segerstedt Institute found that antisemitism persists across both extremist political fringes, fueled in part by tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
According to the World Jewish Congress, many Swedish Jews feel “betrayed” by their government’s slow and often muted responses to anti-Jewish hate. In cities like Malmö and Gothenburg, synagogues and Jewish schools have reported rising threats, vandalism, and harassment over the past year.
Although the Swedish government released an “Action Plan to Combat Racism and Hate Crime” earlier this month, Jewish leaders warn that policy alone is not enough.
“We’ve seen the devastating consequences of such hatred—whether in Europe, the United States, or elsewhere in the world,” Lega said, further warning of the dangers of spreading classic antisemitic tropes and the damaging impact this has on the credibility of democratic institutions.
EJA’s leaders emphasized that while political opinions may differ, especially in regard to Gaza, such differences must never justify or blur the line on antisemitism.
“It’s important to acknowledge that people may have different views on who is to blame for the current situation in Gaza. Personally, I hold Hamas responsible.” said Lega. “But regardless of political opinion, one thing must be absolutely clear: antisemitic hate has no place in our societies. Ever.”
So far, Vänsterpartiet has remained publicly silent. As pressure builds, observers say the party’s response—or lack thereof—could have long-term implications for its credibility, both domestically and internationally.
“The party must take a clear and uncompromising stand,” said Rabbi Margolin. “They must show that hate, in any form, is not tolerated in Sweden’s democracy. And we will not rest until they do.”
Nothing will be done.
Another Jew hating leftist European bitch