An Honor Kidnapping

A Syrian diplomat has been expelled from Sweden for his part in a purported plot to kidnap his own daughter. This is an intriguing story with a frustrating lack of details. Our Swedish correspondent Freedom Fighter has translated a report posted yesterday by Swedish TV:

Diplomat and politician involved in kidnapping incident

The Government has decided that the chief diplomat, the chargé d’affaires, at the Syrian embassy in Stockholm is to be deported. According to sources the reason is the suspicion that the diplomat is involved in plans to kidnap his own daughter.

Yesterday, police also arrested a Stockholm politician (Social Democrat) on suspicion of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

The kidnapping is described as an honour crime since the daughter started a relationship with a young man against her father’s will.

According to the report, the arrested person is a Stockholm politician, having worked as a family mediator in the diplomatic family that is now under investigation.

The Swedish UD [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] would not comment tonight on the subject.

There’s also a report in today’s edition of The Local (original in English):
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Sweden: Syrian Diplomat Expelled Over ‘Kidnap Plot’

Syria’s top envoy to Sweden has been expelled and a Swedish politician arrested on suspicion of plotting to kidnap the diplomat’s daughter because of a relationship she was having, Sveriges Television (SVT) reported on Tuesday.

Syria’s chargé d’affaires, who was not named, allegedly wanted to abduct his daughter and take her out of Sweden where she was having a relationship with a young man, SVT reported, citing sources close to the matter.

The diplomat was allegedly helped by an elected Social Democrat politician who was arrested as part of an enquiry into the matter, television said.

Teo Zetterman at the Swedish foreign ministry was unable to confirm to The Local on Wednesday morning whether the diplomat was still in Sweden.

“We don’t comment on these types of diplomatic cases at all,” he said.

SVT reported that the diplomat had already left the country, while other media said he was still in Sweden.

The Social Democrat politician who has represented Stockholm for several years, was reported by SVT to have been acting as the Syrian diplomat’s family adviser.

The politician is currently being detained and the prosecutor will decide on Wednesday whether he should be released.

Hat tip for The Local: C. Cantoni.