CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Aug. 12, 2008: Did police in Sweden go overboard in the arrest of reggae superstar Sean Paul and hundreds of fans?

Some reggae promoters think so, including the man who organized the Uppsala Reggae Festival, where Paul, nine other performers, and up to 300 fans were arrested on Friday for marijuana possession.

‘The way they treated Sean Paul and other artists was totally unacceptable,’ Uppsala organizer Yared Tekeste told a Swedish publication. ‘They searched his hotel room when he was not present and went through wallets and other personal belongings’.

Tekeste said he believed law enforcement officials targeted Paul to make an example of him. Out of the festival’s three days they chose the day he was to perform to make the mass arrests.

‘Both artists and staff feel humiliated,’ said Tekeste. ‘People were crying backstage. Some of the artists were so angry they planned a demonstration outside the police station. But I managed to prevent that.’

Caribbean nationals involved in the New York reggae scene agreed that Paul may have been set up to prove a point.

‘He’s the one that sang, ‘Just gimme the light and pass the draw.’ What did they expect?’ asked television producer Shaun Walsh.

But concert promoter Sharon Gordon believes there’s a double standard for reggae concerts, and Paul may have been a victim of it. She said venues charge her more than the usual fee because they want to hire extra security. ‘There’s always that stigma that I have to fight – the idea that reggae means ganja and lewd behavior,’ said Gordon.

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Source:Swedish Police Take Heat For Sean Paul Arrest