Should Snowden get asylum in Sweden?

Edward Snowden. Photo: TT

As Edward Snowden was officially awarded his alternative Nobel prize on Monday, the world was reacting to calls for him to be given asylum in Sweden, made by a top MP in the country. The Local has rounded-up some of the key and most controversial comments.

A leading American academic who is based in Sweden has told The Local that Snowden should be granted asylum, saying he'd be welcomed with 'open arms' if he was a whistleblower from China or Iran.

Christian Christensen, Professor of Journalism at Stockholm Univeristy, was reacting to the proposal by Green Party MP Valter Mutt that Snowden should be offered a lifeline in Sweden.

"Speaking as an American citizen who has been living in Sweden for a long time then personally I think it is a good idea.

"If Snowden was a Chinese or Iranian whistleblower then he would have been welcomed to Sweden with open arms already. The reason why he hasn't been is because he's American and Sweden doesn't want to harm its relationship with the US," Christensen told The Local.

The American is currently holed up in Russia and has had his US passport revoked. Snowden has been awarded an alternative Nobel Prize known as the Swedish Right Livelihood Award but is unable to attend Monday's ceremony at the Swedish parliament in person.

Among the secrets revealed by Snowden were that Sweden signed a secret intelligence treaty with the US to spy on other countries in 1954 and that it routinely spies on Russia civil targets.

Swedish politician Valter Mutt said that Snowden was a 'hero' and compared him to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. He also said the official government plane could be used to fetch him from Russia and would be taking the matter up with the foreign ministerMargot Wallstrm

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Should Snowden get asylum in Sweden?