Gisslan

Gisslan, the Swedish term for "hostage," refers to a person held by an abducting party against their will, usually to compel authorities, a group, or a third party to meet demands. Hostages can be civilians, employees, or combatants, depending on the context. The practice occurs in criminal abductions, political crises, or armed conflicts and is generally regarded as unlawful and dangerous, with the safety of the hostage and bystanders as the primary concern for responders.

International law condemns hostage-taking. The International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (1979) criminalizes the act and obligates states to prosecute or extradite perpetrators. In armed conflict, humanitarian law protects civilians and prohibits taking hostages as a tactic of warfare. National laws in many countries treat hostage-taking as a serious offense, often linked with kidnapping, terrorism, or organized crime, carrying substantial penalties.

Crisis response emphasizes preservation of life through planning, negotiation, and specialized intervention. Police and security services may use trained hostage negotiators to communicate with captors, while tactical units prepare to mitigate risk. Outcomes vary; some hostages are released unharmed, while others suffer injury or death. The incident can have lasting psychological and social consequences for survivors and communities.

Preventive measures focus on risk assessment, secure facilities and transport, routine screening, and rapid, coordinated response protocols. Media coverage is often controlled to avoid escalation. The term gisslan is used in Swedish-language reporting and scholarship to discuss hostage-taking as a criminal and political phenomenon.