Moment of silence for the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in Brussels
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns honoring the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in Brussels where two Swedes were killed and one was seriously injured 1. The Speaker expresses sorrow over the lost lives and shock at the hatred 1. There is anger over the terrorists' attempts to control people's lives with violence 1. One must never accept a worldview where nationality, faith, or skin color determines the right to life 1. It is important that all who believe in freedom and democracy unite and share each other's sorrow and determination 1. The Riksdag honors the victims with a minute of silence 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
TALMANNEN
Honorable members! In connection with the commencement of the House's meeting today, we honor the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in Brussels. The Riksdag also flies at half-mast for the duration of this ceremony.
Last night - an evening that was intended to be marked by joy and community - we were reached by the news that two Swedes were killed in a terrorist act and that another Swede was seriously injured. One should be able to wear our blue and yellow colors with joy, pride, and in safety. Yesterday, these very colors instead made Swedes targets for terror.
Moment of silence for the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in Brussels
What has happened fills us with sorrow but also with shock and anger. Sorrow over the lives that have been lost. Shock over how a person, blinded by hatred, in a single blow can deprive so many other people of so much. Anger over the terrorists' attempts to use violence to control how we view our fellow human beings and how we live our lives.
Today we mourn the victims of terror. But at the same time, we are strengthened in our determination not to yield to the terrorists. We will never accept their worldview, where a person's nationality, faith, or skin color determines whether they have the right to live. Instead, it is important that all of us who believe in freedom and democracy unite and share each other's sorrow and determination - exactly in the way that the Belgian supporters last night showed their support for the Swedes at the arena in Brussels.
The author and poet Ingrid Arvidsson has captured what we feel today:
Such a small space a human takes up on earth. Less than a tree in the forest. Such a large void she leaves behind. A whole world cannot fill it.
Let us now unite in a moment of silence for our countrymen who have fallen victims of terrorism. We think of you, and we think of your relatives.
Those gathered in the plenary chamber honored the victims of the terrorist attack in Brussels with a minute of silence.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.