MALMO (Reuters) – Climate activist Greta Thunberg was forcibly removed from a protest in the southern Swedish city of Malmö on Monday, hours after a local court fined her for disobeying a police order during a similar protest last month.
Thunberg, 20, who became the face of young climate activists around the world after staging weekly protests in front of the Swedish Parliament, admitted during court proceedings that she had disobeyed a police order but pleaded not guilty and said she was acting out of necessity.
“It is absurd that those who act in line with science should pay the price for this,” she told reporters at the Malmö District Court.
Thunberg and other activists from the group Reclaim the Future blocked oil trucks in the port of Malmö on 19 June. She was charged with failing to leave when ordered to do so by the police.
[1/5]Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is carted away by police when she takes part in new climate action at Olgehamnen in Malmö, Sweden July 24, 2023. TT News Agency / Andreas Hillergren / via REUTERS
After Monday’s ruling, Thunberg and other activists returned to Malmö’s port only to be taken away by police again for blocking traffic.
Thunberg had earlier told the court that her actions were justified. “I believe we are in an emergency situation that threatens life, health and property. Countless people and communities are at risk in the short and long term,” she said.
The court ordered Thunberg to pay 1,500 SEK ($144) and an additional 1,000 SEK to Sweden’s fund for victims of crime. The fine was applied in proportion to the declared income. Failure to comply with a police order carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment.
($1 = 10.4088 SEK)
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Tom Little) Editing by Simon Johnson, Thomas Janowski and Susan Fenton
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