Response to interpellation 2023/24:216 on measures against Muslim antisemitism
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L argues that the government prioritizes the work against all forms of hate 1 and that Sweden shall be free from antisemitism 1. L emphasizes that the government has taken measures such as the working group Samling för judiskt liv 1 and that one should avoid increased polarization 2. L considers it important that schools and the adult world counteract antisemitism among children and young people 3 and that Sweden previously had a fear of touching upon antisemitism among persons with origins in the Middle East 4. SD argues that Muslim antisemitism is a specific problem that requires targeted interventions 5 and that Jews are insecure due to the Muslim immigration 5. SD wants the government to stop supporting organizations with links to the Muslim Brotherhood 6 and considers that the problem must be handled so that Jews can have a future in Sweden 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! Nima Gholam Ali Pour has asked Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson if the minister intends to initiate measures specifically targeting Muslim antisemitism and if the minister intends to prioritize the work against Muslim antisemitism, as studies show that antisemitism is more widespread among Muslim migrants.
The work within the government is distributed in such a way that it is I who shall answer the interpellation.
Let me begin by reminding that the Prime Minister, several other ministers, and I myself have on several occasions emphatically condemned the antisemitic remarks, the hatred, and the threats that have occurred following Hamas's terror attack against Israel on October 7. I want to be clear about that today as well. Sweden shall be a country free from antisemitism, all forms of racism, and hate crimes. No Jew in Sweden should have to wonder if he or she dares to remain in his or her own country. Antisemitism is harmful both to the individuals who are targeted, for Jewish life in Sweden, and for society as a whole.
Antisemitism has a long and dark history even in our country. It also has a distinct character compared to other forms of racism and hatred because it is common to both right-wing and left-wing extremists as well as Islamists and constitutes a fundamental part of many conspiracy theories. Antisemitism occurs in broad layers of the population, is present among people with different backgrounds and cuts across different groups, political positions, and ideologies.
The government is also aware of the surveys from Forum för levande historia which show an overrepresentation of antisemitism in certain groups, including among persons of Muslim religious affiliation and persons born outside Sweden and Europe. These studies constitute some of several important bases in the government's continued work. If we are to succeed in pushing back antisemitism, awareness and knowledge are required, so that no children and young people inherit the prejudices of previous generations.
Regardless of who it is directed at, racism or similar hostility is never acceptable. The work to prevent and counter various forms of racism and similar hostility continues. I am proud to be part of a government that from day one has prioritized the work of preventing and countering antisemitism. Let me mention some of the measures that have been taken so far.
The Government continues the work with the action program against antisemitism, which includes a number of measures focusing on increasing knowledge about antisemitism in society, more research on antisemitism, and increased efforts within the school system. In the budget bill for 2024, the Government adds 20 million kronor to the work against racism, in which the work against antisemitism is included.
To intensify and coordinate the work against antisemitism, the government has appointed the working group Samling för judiskt liv, which will work throughout the entire mandate period against antisemitism and for Jewish life in Sweden. The initiative focuses on three areas: educational efforts, increasing safety for Jews in Sweden, and highlighting Jewish culture. During 2023, the working group's theme has been safety. In the working group, representatives from civil society, Jewish representatives, and representatives for relevant authorities and organizations collaborate with state secretaries from six relevant departments. The working group is led by the Prime Minister's state secretary.
In order for us to be able to take accurate measures, it is of great importance that we gain a better understanding of the prevalence and expressions of antisemitism in Sweden. Therefore, in the budget bill for 2024, the government has proposed that 6 million kronor for the years 2024-2026 be allocated to Forum för levande historia for an attitude survey on antisemitism in order to increase knowledge about the prevalence of antisemitism in the population, as well as to produce a knowledge overview of how antisemitism spreads online.
A great responsibility to combat antisemitism rests on the government and the Riksdag as well as on our authorities. But it will not be enough. All political parties, all religious communities and civil society at large need to show leadership and zero tolerance when antisemitic prejudices are aired, and here we all, every single one of us, bear a responsibility. Antisemitism must not go unchallenged - wherever it comes from.
Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)
Madam Speaker! The discussion about antisemitism imported from the Middle East or Muslim antisemitism was relevant already a decade ago. Since then, not much has changed. It is still a sensitive topic that quite a few politicians do not want to talk about. There are many studies showing that antisemitism is unfortunately widespread among Muslims. Still, politicians and opinion leaders speak in a way as if antisemitism is an equally large problem among other groups. It is not.
We must be honest: Without the Muslim immigration to Sweden, Jews would not have been as insecure as they are today. There are many rational reasons behind this. In many Muslim countries, antisemitism is spread by state authorities. Antisemitic conspiracy theories are accepted as truths in many Muslim countries. Partly this is linked to the Israel-Palestine conflict, partly it is because many Muslim countries are dictatorships.
There is also a clear connection between Islamism and antisemitism, that is, between political Islam and antisemitism.
Evin Ismail, a researcher at the Swedish Defence University, has written about this in his thesis The Antisemitic Origins of Islamist Violence. In the thesis, one can read, among other things, that the Islamist ideology states that a constant war against Muslims is ongoing and that killing Jews is part of this war. In the thesis, one can also read that Sayyid Qutb is behind this antisemitic conspiracy theory of a constant war between Jews and Muslims. Sayyid Qutb is also one of the Muslim Brotherhood's leading ideologues.
What does this have to do with the debate? Well, many of Sweden's Muslim organizations unfortunately have strong ideological links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Organizations that receive support from various authorities, for example Ibn Rushd, have strong ideological links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Unfortunately, most organizations that organize Muslims in Sweden have links to the Muslim Brotherhood or to various mosques that are financed by dictatorships in the Middle East.
It is not strange that antisemitism has a strong foothold among Muslims when those who organize Muslims in Sweden have strong links to political Islam.
This is a complex issue, and it concerns ideology, specifically conspiracy theories that are deeply rooted among the Muslim population in Sweden. This does not mean that all Muslims are antisemites. However, studies show that quite a few Muslims have antisemitic views.
Freedom of opinion prevails in Sweden. But the fact that we have received many Muslims who have anti-Semitic views makes society less safe for Sweden's Jews. This cannot be neglected, and targeted measures are required against the Muslim group to counteract political Islam and precisely those anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that flourish among Muslims. It is not enough to work generally against anti-Semitism, but it is precisely the Muslim anti-Semitism that today makes life less safe for Sweden's Jews.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! I want to begin by confirming the picture that the interpellator paints, that antisemitism occurs within several different groups where the group of persons with Muslim affiliation or background in the Middle East displays antisemitic statements.
There is a report from the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency from 2018 on where Jewish groups themselves perceive antisemitic expressions to come from. In the survey conducted in 2018, those who responded to the questionnaire stated that 40 percent of the antisemitic expressions came from persons whom they perceived to have a - in English - muslim extremist view.
This is an antisemitism that has not been brought into the light enough, which we in many respects have not dared to talk about. I share the interpellator's view that we must address the issue in a clearer way than we have done today.
Over the last two months, antisemitism has been significantly more visible on our streets and squares, not least immediately after the terror attack on October 7, when praises of Hamas's horrific acts of terror took place openly on our streets. We need to shine a light on the issue of antisemitism.
Madam Speaker! It is important to map out what the current situation is and what the facts are regarding antisemitic statements. However, it is important to know why one does this. In the situation we are in now, it is a matter of looking forward, of making visible the antisemitism regardless of where it comes from, in order to have a basis for concrete measures forward, concrete measures that actually work to combat antisemitic statements and opinions.
The worst thing we can do in the situation we find ourselves in now is to increase polarization by pitting different groups against each other. Instead, we need to unite, move forward, and be clear in condemning antisemitic expressions, but find a common ground forward where we can, in different ways, combat the antisemitic expressions that have become so visible in our society and which cause the Jewish population in, among other places, Sweden to feel a great insecurity, where parents do not dare to let their children go to school on certain days because the threat is too great, and furthermore that Jews in Sweden do not dare to wear Jewish symbols openly for fear of hate and threats.
We must fight antisemitism, and it is just as reprehensible regardless of where it comes from.
Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)
Madam Speaker! There are today clear links between political Islam and Muslim antisemitism. Whether it is Hamas, the regime in Iran, or the Islamic State, we see the antisemitism. We have seen how the so-called Muslim civil society in Sweden over the years has invited antisemitic speakers and how they repeatedly express themselves in an antisemitic manner. Even if one chooses to ignore research that shows the link between antisemitism and political Islam, one must acknowledge that there is a pattern in how the different Muslim organizations have acted over the years.
A first step in countering Muslim antisemitism is to stop supporting organizations that have ideological links to the Muslim Brotherhood. There is evidence that the Muslim Brotherhood is an antisemitic movement. Why should taxpayers' money end up with these Islamists? It is actually quite simple. There is an increasing antisemitism in Sweden. Stop granting funds to organizations where antisemitism exists in the organization's ideology!
I also want to say a few words about the antisemitism that exists in the Riksdag building. The Social Democrats have a Member of Parliament who not so long ago participated in a Hamas conference. Apart from the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organization, it is an antisemitic organization that directs its hatred not only towards Israel but also towards Jews. Hamas has also shown in action that they want to kill as many Jews as possible. It is something they boast about. In short, it is about pure antisemitism, which is not strange since Hamas consists of Islamists.
Despite this, a member of Parliament, who represents the Social Democrats, chose to participate in a Hamas conference. Despite this, the Social Democrats have not distanced themselves from this member of Parliament but continue to have confidence in him. Partly, this is about Muslim antisemitism and that the Social Democrats have many voters among Muslims, and the Social Democrats understand that they cannot really distance themselves from Muslim antisemitism. Partly, it is also about poor judgment and cynicism, where a party cannot distance itself from pure Jew-hatred. It is a scandal.
The Government cannot do anything about this, and it is up to the Social Democrats to summon the courage to distance themselves from racism. But this incident shows how widespread Muslim antisemitism is, where Sweden's largest party cannot really distance itself from Muslim antisemitism but must continue to support a member who participated in a Hamas conference.
This shows the extent of the problem and that the government must act against Muslim antisemitism. The government must act because on the other side there are Social Democrats who legitimize Muslim antisemitism. The demonstrations following Hamas's terror attack against Israel on October 7 were the tip of an iceberg. For years, Jewish students and Jewish teachers have been harassed in Malmö's schools while the Social Democratic politicians denied the problem. The government must act now with the point aimed at Muslim antisemitism.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! The interpellor says that the government must act now. I completely share that view, and so does the government. We are taking a number of measures.
We are taking security-enhancing measures. It is very important, because we see the enormous insecurity that our Jewish population lives under in Sweden. Here, the government decided in October this year to support the Jewish Central Council with 10 million kronor for the current year so that their security work can be strengthened and so that congregations and organizations all over the country do not have to shut down or limit their activities. This is incredibly important. But taking security-enhancing measures does not solve the problem. It only addresses the symptoms.
What we need to do is really get to the root of these antisemitic remarks. It is exactly as the interpellor says here: We see antisemitism among people coming from states where antisemitism is supported by the state apparatus and where antisemitic conspiracy theories and remarks are part of many children's upbringing. The government and all other relevant actors must take powerful measures to tackle the antisemitism among our children and young people.
The government has also acted here. There is a mandate to Forum för levande historia where an educational initiative at the university level is being carried out, aimed at teachers, principals and other relevant actors who have an important role in countering antisemitism among children and young people. This is carried out in collaboration with the Segersted Institute at the University of Gothenburg and in dialogue with SKMA.
Addressing antisemitism, especially among our children and young people, I believe is an incredibly important measure, and when we do this, we must see what reality looks like. We have individuals, children, who grow up in families where antisemitism is part of the upbringing. Then we must have other parts of the adult world, not least the school, which counter this information and show the children that this is not the right path to take and that racism, including antisemitism, has no place whatsoever in Sweden.
Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for an interesting debate.
I know that you are doing more than the previous government, and I hope that I have succeeded in highlighting the seriousness of this issue. It is not only Muslims who are antisemites, but it is the Muslim antisemitism in Sweden that is of significance and which makes life insecure for many Jews.
I understand that it is difficult to discuss this. One does not want to single out a group of people. But in this case, it is precisely the group of Muslims who are affected by a series of power holders in the Middle East who for generations have indoctrinated their people with antisemitism. Now these people have come to Sweden, and it has become a problem for Sweden's Jews. That is where we are now; that is the problem we have to deal with, and we have an obligation to deal with this problem. We cannot let one of the country's minorities perish because we wanted to be politically correct or kind. We must deal with this problem.
The evidence that antisemitism is widespread among Muslims exists. The evidence that political Islam is a driver for antisemitism exists. Now we need to work to counter Muslim antisemitism.
For those who bring up Islamophobia every time one talks about antisemitism, I want to point out that Jews are fleeing from Sweden while Muslims are coming to Sweden. This must be repeated: Jews are fleeing from Sweden while Muslims are coming to Sweden. Antisemitism is a bigger problem than discrimination against Muslims. It is a much bigger problem in Sweden.
This is a matter of destiny. Countering Muslim antisemitism is about whether the Jews are to have a future in Sweden at all. It is now that we must act, and I am glad that this government is doing more than the previous one did.
Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)
Madam Speaker! I would really like to thank the interpellator for this debate because it is important to shed light on this issue.
For far too long, there has been great anxiety regarding antisemitism among people of Middle Eastern origin. This anxiety is somewhat reminiscent of the anxiety we in Sweden have previously shown regarding honor-based oppression. For a long time, we did not dare to talk about those phenomena, which hit vulnerable individuals extremely hard. Now we see that in a similar way, we have had a fear of touching upon parts of the antisemitism we see in Sweden, and the Jewish population pays and has for a long time paid a very high price for that anxiety. Here we need to take a new course and truly address this in order to be able to find the right measures that actually make a difference when we are to combat this antisemitism.
The government will continue to work with full force to combat all forms of antisemitism in Sweden. It is incredibly prioritized for us, because in Sweden everyone should be able to live freely regardless of religion and identity. No one should have to hide their identity for fear of being subjected to hate or threats. No one should have to keep their children home from school because they fear for their safety. This is fundamental to our entire identity and our entire democratic system in Sweden.
We will continue this work with full force. Many thanks for the debate!
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.