Lindh's murder caused a grave shock inside and outside Sweden

By Yehia Abu Zakariya, IOL Stockholm Correspondent

STOCKHOLM, September 14 (IslamOnline.net) – Sweden and Europe have lost an unparalleled political personality. Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was not only a diplomatic figure who perfected political relationships and reconciliation between international foes, but she managed to a great extent to add a humanitarian aspect to all situations.

Lindh supported the weak all along against international arrogance of power. She strongly opposed the U.S. wars on Afghanistan and Iraq.

Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson has appointed the Minister of Immigration and International Trade a successor to Lindh who was stabbed to death while shopping in a large Stockholm store.

Sharon A Maniac, Bush A Fool

Lindh defied Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon more than once and described him as a maniac. She declared on the official Swedish TV channel that she will boycott Israeli goods and fruits, sold in Swedish markets.

The Swedish Foreign Minister also defied Denmark when it decided to abuse refugees of the third world. She supported the Afghans whom Australia refused to receive and declared her readiness to interfere in order to settle disputes between North and South Koreas.

Furthermore, Lindh described U.S. President George W. Bush as a fool due to his arrogance and the U.S. deterrence of Europe to follow the American example.

She knew a lot about the Arab and Islamic worlds and media, including IslamOnline.net.

When Washington and Tel Aviv limited their dealings with former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen, Lindh said that the U.S. and Israel gave Abu Mazen “the kiss of death”, by which she meant political death for the ME peace process.

Lindh represented the future of Sweden, as she was almost certain to become the future Prime Minister. She believed in cultural and religious dialogue and held a great conference in Stockholm on Europe and Islam, and invited several Islamic figures from all parts of the world.

Some of those figures were accused of being radical at home but Lindh believed greatly in the necessity of dialogue among all peoples and all factions.

When Mohamed Ghazali, a Swedish, was detained by the U.S. security agencies in Pakistan and moved to Guantanamo, Lindh sent a high-ranking delegation to request Washington for his immediate release, particularly that Washington had no evidence whatsoever against him.

Such brave stances gained her respect among different Swedish political parties as well as Arab and Muslim communities in Sweden. Furthermore, all European officials respected her.

Who Killed Anna Lindh?

It is worth noting that the Swedish former Premiere Olof Palme, assassinated in February 1986, was also anti-U.S. policies. He demonstrated in front of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm and talked scornfully about Richard Nixon in some of his notes. His killer is still unknown and at large.

When the killer is ambiguous, this means he is very professional and cunning. Lindh’s killer disappeared although the Swedish security agencies are known for their cleverness.

Media and political agencies in Stockholm wonder about the implications of Lindh’s death. They ask about the video cameras of the shopping malls where Lindh was shopping. Such cameras should have shot the killer while performing his crime.