Published 5 February 2024 at 14.18
Media. SVT claimed that right-wing journalist Christian Peterson had been “threatening and harassing” left-wing extremist Tobias Hübinette. Now the state television giant is being prosecuted for the feature by the Review Board.
– An obvious smear campaign against me, says Peterson to Fria Tider.
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It attracted a lot of attention in the media when last year Christian Peterson signed up for a course in “critical whiteness studies” at Karlstad University.
The course was taught by the left-wing extremist and Expo founder Tobias Hübinette, who was so badly affected by being scrutinized that he called himself sick.
Government promises new law to be able to suspend Christian Peterson from college:
The terror of the left @AssarChristian is back.
Now accused 21- the year old for having "destroyed" a left-wing extreme university course in Karlstad. https://t.co/9V8Dp5RGb1
— Fria Tider (@friatider) September 9, 2023
SVT broadcast a feature about the matter in “Morgonstudion” on September 11, 2023. The presenter claimed that Christian Peterson – who was not allowed to respond to the claims – had threatened and harassed Tobias Hübinette during the training.
The feature was reported both by Christian Peterson himself and another whistleblower who felt it was biased. They stated that it is not true that Peterson was threatening or harassing the course leader. Christian Peterson was also critical of the fact that Tobias Hübinette's criminal left-wing background was not mentioned, while he himself was portrayed as a right-wing extremist.
SVT maintained in its response that the wording “has been threatening and harassed” was justified. It was further claimed that the broadcaster ensured that the feature was “balanced” in several ways. SVT also believes that Peterson's “view of his actions emerged from the feature”.
However, the review board does not agree, but condemns the state television company for the feature.
“In the feature, the name [ Christian Peterson]. The presenter said that [Peterson] had been threatening and harassed a teacher at Karlstad University and that other students had been described in a derogatory way on social media. In the review board's opinion, this constituted such criticism that required the opportunity to respond. [Peterson] however, was not given the opportunity to respond to this criticism. The feature therefore contradicted the requirement for impartiality in this part,” writes the committee.
Christian Peterson welcomes the decision.
– It is of course welcome that SVT 's obvious smear campaign against me is being noticed. Of course I have not threatened anyone that I am investigating, he says.