'Sweden was like a paradise at first – but then reality hits'
Sweden in Focus7 Mai 2025

'Sweden was like a paradise at first – but then reality hits'

In 2013 Jamil Walli, a journalist, filmmaker and painter, moved to Sweden from Damascus as an exchange student.

Two years later, tens of thousands of his compatriots fled Syria to seek shelter in the country he has since come to call home.

As a journalist, he documented the stories of those fleeing persecution as part of a project for The Local where he interviewed asylum seekers in Arabic about their new lives in Sweden and how they were adapting.

This makes him very well placed to talk about his experience of what became known as the refugee crisis of 2015 when an unprecedented 163,000 asylum seekers made their way to Sweden.

After gaining citizenship in 2019 he went on to pursue studies in filmmaking, graduating in 2022 with a film that tackles xenophobia and what it means to be Swedish.

In this week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, Walli explains what brought him to Sweden, his own relationship to the country, and how attitudes to immigration and immigrants have changed in the past decade.

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Episoder(258)

How is Sweden reacting to US and Israeli attacks on Iran?

How is Sweden reacting to US and Israeli attacks on Iran?

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7 Mar 20min

'Sweden is setting itself up for a losing battle' on skilled immigration

'Sweden is setting itself up for a losing battle' on skilled immigration

This week’s episode features an interview about the lack of transitional rules in Sweden’s proposed new citizenship law.The Local’s deputy editor Becky Waterton speaks to Patrick Gallen, a spokesperso...

4 Mar 48min

Why a legal watchdog slammed Sweden's citizenship plan

Why a legal watchdog slammed Sweden's citizenship plan

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra e...

28 Feb 29min

Sweden's teen deportations: 'It feels like they wanted him to turn 18 so they could reject him'

Sweden's teen deportations: 'It feels like they wanted him to turn 18 so they could reject him'

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

24 Feb 3min

Deportation order for 8-month-old baby shocks Sweden

Deportation order for 8-month-old baby shocks Sweden

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra e...

21 Feb 16min

Parents lash out at Sweden's 'absurd' teen deportations

Parents lash out at Sweden's 'absurd' teen deportations

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

17 Feb 2min

Why high-skilled workers feel betrayed by Sweden

Why high-skilled workers feel betrayed by Sweden

This week we have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local...

14 Feb 18min

The battle to end Sweden's teen deportations

The battle to end Sweden's teen deportations

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now and get early, ad-free access to a full-lengt...

10 Feb 4min

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