The political leadership of Lund's culture and leisure committee has announced it will terminate the sanctuary writer position held by Palestinian journalist Bissan Edwan. According to reports from Swedish media, Edwan allegedly praised Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the decision. The three largest parties in Lund - Social Democrats, Moderates, and Liberals - jointly announced that Edwan will lose her stipend and municipal housing.
The formal decision is scheduled to be made at the committee's meeting on March 19, 2026. Edwan, who has been Lund's sanctuary writer for over a year, reportedly called for celebration and distribution of candy on the streets following the October 2023 attack, according to Expressen's December 2025 investigation. Committee representatives stated the decision is based on not wanting taxpayer money to support individuals who allegedly excuse violence and terrorism against civilians.
We are not questioning the right to express oneself within the framework of what is legal, but this is about how we handle the question from the perspective that we finance and create a platform
The termination could potentially violate Lund's agreement with the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), which protects threatened writers, and may affect Edwan's residence permit in Sweden.