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Griftefrid - för vem? Om brott mot griftefrids skyddsintressen

Jeppsson, Hilda LU (2020) LAGF03 20202
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om skyddsintressen bakom brott mot griftefrid kan få olika effekt för olika kvarlevor. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att undersöka hur det reglerats historiskt för att få reda på om skyddsintressen förändrats över tid. Den första frågeställningen är hur brott mot avlidna och deras viloplatser reglerats historiskt, liksom om äldre värderingar förändrats. Den andra frågeställningen är vilken effekt skyddsintressen bakom paragrafen får för olika typer av kvarlevor. Den sista frågeställningen är om man mot bakgrund av undersökningen kan dra några slutsatser om vad som kommer att ske med våra kvarlevor.
Som teori utgås från att det finns skyddsintressen bakom paragrafen. För att besvara syfte och... (More)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om skyddsintressen bakom brott mot griftefrid kan få olika effekt för olika kvarlevor. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att undersöka hur det reglerats historiskt för att få reda på om skyddsintressen förändrats över tid. Den första frågeställningen är hur brott mot avlidna och deras viloplatser reglerats historiskt, liksom om äldre värderingar förändrats. Den andra frågeställningen är vilken effekt skyddsintressen bakom paragrafen får för olika typer av kvarlevor. Den sista frågeställningen är om man mot bakgrund av undersökningen kan dra några slutsatser om vad som kommer att ske med våra kvarlevor.
Som teori utgås från att det finns skyddsintressen bakom paragrafen. För att besvara syfte och frågeställningar används rättsanalytisk metod. Den rättshistoriska undersökningen sker ur ett rättsutvecklingsperspektiv. Det material som förekommer är källor, litteratur, juridiska tidskriftsartiklar samt rättsfall från lägre instanser.
Begreppet ”griftefrid” uppkom i samband med 1864 års strafflag. Stadganden om brott mot döda har förekommit sedan åtminstone landskapslagarnas tid. Stöld från döda, liksom uppgrävande, har i olika grad varit kriminaliserat sen dess. Skyddsintressen som ligger bakom brott mot griftefrid är pietet, den döde samt de anhöriga. Att agera med pietet innebär att man behandlar kvarlevor med respekt. Allmänintresset påverkar när paragrafen blir tillämplig. Allmänintresset att straffa skändning efter våldsbrott är, i underrättspraxis, högre än allmänintresset av att straffa innehav av oidentifierade, obegravda kvarlevor. Kvarlevor som är äldre än 1850 omfattas av kulturmiljölagen, SFS (1988:950). Dessa kvarlevor kan bli föremål för forskning samt ställas ut på museer. Under vissa förutsättningar kan de även bli föremål för äganderätt.
Efter färjan Estonias förlisning stiftades en särskild lag om gravfriden vid skeppsvraket, SFS (1995:732). Enligt lagens nuvarande lydelse får man inte befinna sig i området runt vraket. Efter en uppmärksammad tv-dokumentär har det under hösten 2020 från regeringens håll uttryckts en vilja att utreda en ändring av lagen, i syfte att under vissa förutsättningar tillåta dykning vid vraket.
Straffstadganden om brott mot döda har breddats och kommit att omfatta än fler gärningar under tidens gång. De grundläggande värderingarna har varit densamma under lång tid. Den nuvarande paragrafen är öppet formulerad och har i underrättspraxis tolkats mycket olika. Samtidens syn på vad som är skyddsvärt tycks påverka hur paragrafen tolkas och tillämpas. Avgörande för när paragrafen blir tillämplig synes vara åldern på kvarlevorna samt om det finns ett allmänintresse av att döma för brott mot griftefrid, antingen av pietetsskäl eller för att det finns anhöriga till den döde. (Less)
Abstract
Crime against the peace of the grave, “brott mot griftefrid”, is found in 16 chap 10 § Penal Code of 1962 (brottsbalken). The paragraphs in the Penal Code aim to protect an interest. The interest can be that either of a group, an individual or of the society. The purpose of the thesis is to investigate if the protective interests behind the paragraph have different effects on different types of remains. The purpose is also to investigate how crime against the peace of the grave has been regulated historically, in order to see if the protective interests have changed. The first question at issue is how crimes against the deceased and their resting places have been regulated historically and whether the protective interests have changed. The... (More)
Crime against the peace of the grave, “brott mot griftefrid”, is found in 16 chap 10 § Penal Code of 1962 (brottsbalken). The paragraphs in the Penal Code aim to protect an interest. The interest can be that either of a group, an individual or of the society. The purpose of the thesis is to investigate if the protective interests behind the paragraph have different effects on different types of remains. The purpose is also to investigate how crime against the peace of the grave has been regulated historically, in order to see if the protective interests have changed. The first question at issue is how crimes against the deceased and their resting places have been regulated historically and whether the protective interests have changed. The second question at issue is what effect the protective interests have on different types of remains. The third and last question is if it is possible to draw any conclusions, based on the answers to the earlier questions, about how our remains will be treated in the future.
In the thesis, it is assumed that protective interests exist. The chosen method is legal analysis. For the part concerning legal history, the perspective is focused on how the regulations about deceased and their resting places have developed through history. The materials used are sources, literature, jurisprudence and court cases from lower courts.
The legal term “griftefrid” was introduced in the Penal Code of 1864. The issue has been regulated since at least the Middle Ages, with their first appearance in the laws of the Swedish provinces of the time, “landskapslagarna”. Theft from corpses, as well as digging them up, have been criminalized in different ways since then. Protective interests behind the paragraph are reverence (“pietet”) the deceased and the deceased’s kin. To act with reverence is to treat remains in a respectful manner. The public interest seems to determine when the paragraph is applied. The public interest to punish desecration following violence has, in lower court cases, been of greater importance than punishing possession of unidentified, non-buried human remains. Crime against the peace of the grave is not applicable to remains that dates back to 1850 or earlier. Instead, the Heritage Conservation Act (kulturmiljölagen), SFS (1988:950), is applied. It is allowed to use these remains for research purposes or to place them in an exhibition at a museum. It is also possible, under certain circumstances, to gain ownership of such remains.
The passenger liner Estonia sank 1994 in the Baltic sea. The remains after hundreds of passengers still rests inside, and scattered around, the shipwreck. In order to protect the peace of the grave, a law, SFS (1995:732), was passed. The law states that it is forbidden to be in the vicinity of the shipwreck. A debate about the law arose during late 2020 following a television documentary that investigated how and why Estonia sank. The intention of the Swedish government is to investigate if the law can be altered and thus allow certain activity in the now forbidden area.
Regulations about crimes against the deceased have expanded through the years. The fundamental values have stayed virtually the same. The phrasing of 16 chap 10 § Penal Code of 1962 opens up for many interpretations. Lower courts have interpreted the paragraph in very different manners. How the contemporary society sees protective interests, and what is worth protecting, seems to affect how the paragraph is applied. Decisive for its applicability appears to be the age of the remains, as well as if there is a public interest to condemn for crime against the peace of the grave. Such public interests could be the interest of preserving reverence or if there are kin to the deceased person. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Jeppsson, Hilda LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20202
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Straffrätt, griftefrid, skyddsintresse
language
Swedish
id
9034014
date added to LUP
2021-02-09 11:47:19
date last changed
2021-02-09 11:47:19
@misc{9034014,
  abstract     = {{Crime against the peace of the grave, “brott mot griftefrid”, is found in 16 chap 10 § Penal Code of 1962 (brottsbalken). The paragraphs in the Penal Code aim to protect an interest. The interest can be that either of a group, an individual or of the society. The purpose of the thesis is to investigate if the protective interests behind the paragraph have different effects on different types of remains. The purpose is also to investigate how crime against the peace of the grave has been regulated historically, in order to see if the protective interests have changed. The first question at issue is how crimes against the deceased and their resting places have been regulated historically and whether the protective interests have changed. The second question at issue is what effect the protective interests have on different types of remains. The third and last question is if it is possible to draw any conclusions, based on the answers to the earlier questions, about how our remains will be treated in the future. 
	In the thesis, it is assumed that protective interests exist. The chosen method is legal analysis. For the part concerning legal history, the perspective is focused on how the regulations about deceased and their resting places have developed through history. The materials used are sources, literature, jurisprudence and court cases from lower courts.
	The legal term “griftefrid” was introduced in the Penal Code of 1864. The issue has been regulated since at least the Middle Ages, with their first appearance in the laws of the Swedish provinces of the time, “landskapslagarna”. Theft from corpses, as well as digging them up, have been criminalized in different ways since then. Protective interests behind the paragraph are reverence (“pietet”) the deceased and the deceased’s kin. To act with reverence is to treat remains in a respectful manner. The public interest seems to determine when the paragraph is applied. The public interest to punish desecration following violence has, in lower court cases, been of greater importance than punishing possession of unidentified, non-buried human remains. Crime against the peace of the grave is not applicable to remains that dates back to 1850 or earlier. Instead, the Heritage Conservation Act (kulturmiljölagen), SFS (1988:950), is applied. It is allowed to use these remains for research purposes or to place them in an exhibition at a museum. It is also possible, under certain circumstances, to gain ownership of such remains. 
	The passenger liner Estonia sank 1994 in the Baltic sea. The remains after hundreds of passengers still rests inside, and scattered around, the shipwreck. In order to protect the peace of the grave, a law, SFS (1995:732), was passed. The law states that it is forbidden to be in the vicinity of the shipwreck. A debate about the law arose during late 2020 following a television documentary that investigated how and why Estonia sank. The intention of the Swedish government is to investigate if the law can be altered and thus allow certain activity in the now forbidden area. 
	Regulations about crimes against the deceased have expanded through the years. The fundamental values have stayed virtually the same. The phrasing of 16 chap 10 § Penal Code of 1962 opens up for many interpretations. Lower courts have interpreted the paragraph in very different manners. How the contemporary society sees protective interests, and what is worth protecting, seems to affect how the paragraph is applied. Decisive for its applicability appears to be the age of the remains, as well as if there is a public interest to condemn for crime against the peace of the grave. Such public interests could be the interest of preserving reverence or if there are kin to the deceased person.}},
  author       = {{Jeppsson, Hilda}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Griftefrid - för vem? Om brott mot griftefrids skyddsintressen}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}