A Swedish woman who live-streamed a protest on
a plane at a Swedish airport in a bid to stop the deportation of an
Afghan man went on trial Monday for violating air traffic
regulations.
Elin Ersson live-streamed her July 23 protest to Facebook from inside
the plane at Gothenburg Landvetter Airport. The clip showing her
refusing to sit down went viral. Ersson was heard saying in the video
that some passengers had also stood up in support.
The stand-off involving Ersson, a Turkish Airlines flight attendant
and some other passengers was resolved when the Afghan man and Ersson
disembarked from the plane.
Ersson has stated that she was acting on moral grounds, and that
Afghanistan was not safe for returnees.
Her attorney, Tomas Fridh, challenged the charges. He filed a
document from a Stockholm University doctor of law, Dennis
Martinsson, who questioned if the aviation law could be applied for
the charges filed, noting for instance that Ersson was told to sit
down by the crew and not the pilot.
Ersson faces a fine or up to six months in prison if convicted.
The Afghan man, 52, was later deported to Afghanistan.
The Istanbul-bound Turkish Airlines flight was delayed almost 2
hours. The airline has not requested compensation according to court
documents.
The proceedings were held at the Gothenburg district court. Court
officials had no immediate date for when the ruling was due.
Ersson is a member of an activist group in the western city of
Gothenburg that has staged regular protests against deportations to
Afghanistan.
Elin Ersson arrives for her trial at the District court in Gothenburg, Sweden.