Swedish teen jailed for Davis Cup protest

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NEW YORK (JTA) — A Swedish teenager was sentenced to 15 months in prison for rioting at an anti-Israel protest during a Davis Cup tennis match.

The Malmo District Court sentenced the 18-year-old Wednesday for throwing paving stones at police outside the arena where Sweden and Israel were playing behind closed doors. He also was found guilty of drug possession, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Police detained nearly 100 people and arrested 10 during the March 7 riots.

Spectators were not allowed at the matches because Malmo city officials said they could not guarantee security at the venue due to the Israeli army’s operation in Gaza.

The Davis Cup Committee fined the Swedish tennis federation $25,000 and banned Malmo from hosting Davis Cup matches for five years because of the decision.

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