Beijing accuses Swedish police of violating human rights

BEIJING is demanding an apology from the Swedish government for violating human rights and for “brutal abuse” after footage emerged of Chinese tourists allegedly being thrown out of a hotel by police in Stockholm.

A Chinese man and his parents arrived at the hotel at midnight, hours before their booking would allow them to check in. Their demands to stay in the lobby were refused, leading to the police stepping in.

Footage circulating online shows police carrying the tourists outside, with the son yelling in English: “This is killing. This is killing.” The mother, lying on the ground, is wailing and cries in Chinese: “Save me.”

The Chinese embassy in Sweden asked the Swedish government to investigate and to issue an apology. The embassy said it was “deeply appalled and angered by what happened and strongly condemns the behaviour of the Swedish police”.

It also said the police actions “severely endangered the life and violated the basic human rights of the Chinese citizens”.

The incident comes at a time when the relationship between China and Sweden has been strained.

The tourist, known by his surname Zeng, told state media that he had asked the hotel to allow his elderly parents to stay in the lobby until their room was available.

The hotel staff refused, and called the police. Upon arrival, Mr Zeng said the police dragged his father from the sofa and pushed him to the ground. State media reports also say the three were then forced into a police car and dropped near a cemetery outside of downtown Stockholm.