Jew-free sticker pasted on Stockholm shoe store
Street artist Dan Park placed the sign next to a boycott sticker, prompting immediate removal by the owner and sharp criticism from Israeli officials.
By Nour Haddad ·
Stockholm residents witnessed a new flashpoint in the debate over anti-Israel boycotts when two stickers appeared on a storefront in the city center on Saturday. The placement occurred at a shoe store in central Sweden.
The first sticker declared the location an Apartheid-free zone, aligning with the international boycott movement. The second sticker read Jew-free zone, with the word Jew printed inside a Star of David. This design mirrored the German term Judenfrei used during the Nazi era. Dan Park, a Swedish street artist, identified himself as the person who applied the second sticker. He shared images of the incident online shortly after they were posted.
Park explained his actions in a social media post, describing the sign as a blunt translation of the boycott campaign's underlying message. He cited the sticker's placement as a direct response to the political statements made by the first sign. Park is not new to controversy; he was convicted of incitement against a protected group in April of this year. His prior actions included placing a canister labeled with a gas name used in gas chambers outside a Jewish community center in Malmo.
The store owner removed both stickers following the public reaction. The quick takedown followed a wave of criticism from local residents and international observers. Israel's Ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, responded on the platform X. He stated that the entire discussion is abhorrent and shows how normalized antisemitism has become. Kulman added that there must be zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form.
Sacha Roytman, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, also commented on the event. He noted that the Nazis had a specific word for such signs, referencing the historical term Judenfrei. Roytman argued that the incident demonstrates how hatred of Israel can legitimize direct attacks on Jews under the guise of political activism. He pointed out that this language is now appearing in European storefronts decades after the defeat of Nazi Germany.
The incident generated significant traffic on social media, with users directing anger at the Swedish government. Commentators accused authorities of silence and helplessness, demanding decisive enforcement measures against street hate. Many criticized officials for offering tepid condemnations instead of taking action. The controversy highlights the tension between political protest and historical symbolism in European public spaces.
The shoe store remains open, though the specific stickers are no longer visible on the front. Park has continued to post about the event, maintaining that his intent was to expose the nature of the boycott campaign. The Swedish government has not issued a formal statement regarding the removal of the signs or the artist's actions.
