Sweden has for a long time been known for its equal rights for men and women. In a country where the freedom of right and speech is widespread, and women are looked on as independent human beings with their own independence, it has come as a shock to the country that the Greek attaché Vassilios Bakalis, based in Stockholm, has publicly, both in a letter addressed to a private individual and on national TV, slandered the whole Swedish female population by expressing "...you should be ashamed of the behaviour of Swedish women, both on holiday in all parts of the world and with foreign citizens in their own country!" It all started with the rape of a Swedish woman in Greece in 2009.
A holiday, which was supposed to be relaxing and bring happy memories, ended in 2009 in assault and rape for a woman after being drugged in Greece. The charges were dropped by authorities and the victim was instead accused of slandering the rapist in a goal to collect "rape insurance", an insurance that does not exist in Sweden but has been reported in newspapers in Greece as official and is no more than a lie. It makes you wonder of the integrity of the investigating reporters.
In recent days the situation of the victim has been reported in media and a private male individual wrote to the Greek embassy in Stockholm where he expressed his concern and views over her treatment, but also from a tourist point of view, who has visited Greece on many occasions. The written response he received from Vassilios Bakalis, attaché, was not what anyone would expect.
"To the opposite, my friend, it is you who should be ashamed of the behaviour of Swedish women, both on holiday in all parts of the world and with foreign citizens in their own country!"
Vassilios Bakalis continues writing of being warned by taxi drivers in Stockholm: "...has warned me of not taking home intoxicated Swedish women to my apartment because of the large likelihood of them accusing me of rape when they wake up in the morning and understand who you are."
Mr Bakalis views on women are very far away from the democratic society of Sweden. A woman has there the right to say no and own the right to her own body. Perhaps this is not something mr Bakalis, or the taxi drivers he has spoken to, are used to.
Mr Bakalis was called by TV4, one of the major national TV stations, with regards to his response to the private individual. He is asked the question of what he means, and responds arrogantly: "It is clear and precise English." During the interview he says he will tell a joke about Swedish women abroad, but he left noone laughing with the clear insult in the none existing joke.
It is not a matter of where you are from or what you look like. It is about the democratic right of you as a human being. Rape is serious. Assault is serious, Drugging someone is serious. Anything abusing anyone is serious and wrong on all accounts. By every breath I take I am more and more grateful that I live in a free society where women are seen and heard.
I will never give up on rights to freedom, truth and justice. I was born free and freedom of speech is my right.
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